OCALA, Fla. — A newborn has been surrendered to the state’s first and only “Safe Haven Baby Box” in Ocala.
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The box is located at Ocala Fire Rescue’s headquarters on Northwest Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Photos: Newborn becomes first to be surrendered at ‘Safe Haven Baby Box’ in Ocala
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Usually when one hears about baby abandonment or surrenders it conjures negative thoughts, but officials are applauding the child’s parents.
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Ocala firefighters and the baby box founder are calling this a time to celebrate a life saved.
Baby boxes allow for the safe surrender of infants when the mother or father is in crisis or unable to parent.
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Though surrenders are meant to be anonymous, the non-profit wants to use the opportunity to educate and congratulate the child’s parents.
The surrendered baby was attended to within a few minutes and medically evaluated at a hospital.
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The next step is adoption, which typically happens within 30 to 45 days for newborns.
See more in the video above.
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