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
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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