General Discussion

sl8

(13,786 posts) Sat Nov 11, 2017, 06:29 PM Nov 2017

Infant found in Michigan City fire station's baby box

From http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-indiana-baby-in-box-st-1109-20171108-story.html :

Mick Pawlik, chief of the Coolspring Township Fire Department east of Michigan City, displays the inside of a baby box where he found a newborn was left Tuesday night. (Amy Lavalley / Post-Tribune)

Infant found in Michigan City fire station's baby box
November 9, 2017
Amy Lavalley
Post-Tribune

The silent alarm on the Safe Haven Baby Box at the Coolspring Township Volunteer Fire Department in Michigan City has been tripped before, fire officials there said, mostly by people curious about the box on the east side of the building.

So when Chief Mick Pawlik's pager went off Tuesday night, he assumed it was another false alarm. He hoped it wasn't a baby, he said, because he was in his pajamas.

When he saw something in the box after getting the page at 10:24 p.m. and arriving at the station, he thought it was a dog or a raccoon. That's not what he found.

"I can see this sweatshirt. I can see this little baby arm," he said during a Wednesday news conference at the fire station.

...

Drunken Irishman

(34,857 posts)

1. Well, I mean, isn't that what it's there for?

Reply to sl8 (Original post)

Sat Nov 11, 2017, 06:31 PM

Nov 2017

Irish_Dem

(47,131 posts)

2. A baby in the baby box. Makes sense to me. nt

Reply to Drunken Irishman (Reply #1)

Sat Nov 11, 2017, 06:35 PM

Nov 2017

sl8

(13,786 posts)

3. Well, sure, but apparently the boxes are somewhat controversial & this is the 1st time it's been use

Reply to Drunken Irishman (Reply #1)

Sat Nov 11, 2017, 06:49 PM

Nov 2017

Last edited Sat Nov 11, 2017, 08:21 PM - Edit history (1)

They report that this is one of only two Safe Haven boxes in the U.S..

This article is a little better:

https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/publicsafety/we-saved-a-baby-s-life/article_6e1d9c82-c498-11e7-9cdf-2b49bb95f171.html

'WE SAVED A BABY'S LIFE'
First infant left in LaPorte County baby box

By Lincoln Wright and Bob Blake South Bend Tribune Nov 9, 2017 Updated Nov 10, 2017

...

The Safe Haven Baby Box was installed at the fire department on April 28, 2016, and is one of only two Safe Haven boxes in the United States. The other is located in Woodburn, Ind.

Indiana expanded its safe haven law in April, which enables a person to anonymously give up an unwanted infant without fear of arrest or prosecution. Supporters of the boxes say this helps people avoid the shame they might feel in a face-to-face interaction.

...

But the Save Haven boxes never gained the approval of the Indiana Department of Health and the Department of Child Services. The organizations said there's no evidence supporting the boxes being a safe way for a child to be turned over. An infant needs to be turned over directly to a health or public safety professional, they argue.

...

Smith and Pawlik, though, disagree and said they fully support the use of the boxes. Smith was the one who pushed for the volunteer fire department to get the box. Now, it's a tremendous feeling to see the box do what it was designed for.

...

Irish_Dem

(47,131 posts)

4. Wow, I erroneously assumed there were more baby boxes and they were utilized on a regular basis.

Reply to sl8 (Reply #3)

Sat Nov 11, 2017, 08:08 PM

Nov 2017

Thanks for the info!

sl8

(13,786 posts)

5. I would have assumed the same thing, a couple of hours ago. :). n/ t

Reply to Irish_Dem (Reply #4)

Sat Nov 11, 2017, 08:11 PM

Nov 2017

Brother Buzz

(36,444 posts)

8. Not a box per se, but our Podunk fire department is designated a Safe Baby Surrender Site

Reply to sl8 (Reply #3)

Sat Nov 11, 2017, 08:54 PM

Nov 2017

Our County Board of Supervisors designated our fire house as a "Safe Baby Surrender Site".

Those who are unwilling or unable to care for an infant can surrender the baby
to the Fire Department, 24 hours a day, no questions asked and without fear
of criminal prosecution.

The Safe Baby Surrender Law, or SBB, is intended to spare the life of an
infant by encouraging parents or persons with lawful custody to safely
surrender an infant at a “safe surrender site” within 72 hours of the child’s birth
rather than abandoning them in an unsafe location, avoiding sometimes tragic
consequences. Abandoning a baby puts the child in extreme danger, it is also
illegal. Too often this results in the baby’s death. Because of the alternatives
provided by Safe Baby Surrender Law, this does not ever have to happen in
California again.

irisblue

(32,980 posts)

6. And those who complain....fie on thee

Reply to sl8 (Original post)

Sat Nov 11, 2017, 08:17 PM

Nov 2017

Blessings on that child. Always

Irish_Dem

(47,131 posts)

7. I hope no one complains to hear of such a thing. A baby is saved. nt

Reply to irisblue (Reply #6)

Sat Nov 11, 2017, 08:38 PM

Nov 2017

MFM008

(19,816 posts)

9. Thank God

Reply to sl8 (Original post)

Sat Nov 11, 2017, 09:10 PM

Nov 2017

They could have left it in the woods.....
Good idea.

I wonder if I could fit my baby in one.
He's 34....

lindysalsagal

(20,692 posts)

10. "An infant needs to be turned over directly to a health or public safety professional, they argue."

Reply to sl8 (Original post)

Sat Nov 11, 2017, 10:44 PM

Nov 2017

Um, duh?

This IS the 21st century, right?

We can't use hospitals or churches or schools or libraries or even post office workers? Urgent care? One of the links uses fire houses. I mean, even a veterinarian's office would be better than a box...

I'm thinking that we do have modern technology that could be used to alert a local government worker to meet someone at any of the above service providers...

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