Amarillo Fire Station Acts as a Lifeline: The Importance of Texas’ Safe Haven Law

One of the best laws to be implemented in Texas is the Safe Haven Law or the Baby Moses Law.  George W. Bush the Governor of Texas at the time, signed the Safe Haven Baby Law into effect on September 1, 1999.

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The Safe Haven Law allows parents to anonymously drop their infant at a safe place, including hospitals, fire stations, or emergency medical service stations.

According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, the law states the above, but includes the following,

• Your baby must be 60 days old or younger and unharmed and safe.
• You need to give your baby to an employee who works at one of these safe places and tell this person that you want to leave your baby at a Safe Haven.
• You may be asked by an employee for family or medical history to make sure that your baby receives the care they need.

This law prevents the parent from being prosecuted for abandonment or neglect.

An Amarillo Family Benefited from the Safe Haven Law

Two and a half years ago, a baby was surrendered to Fire Station 13 in Amarillo.  Because of the Safe Haven Law, this baby was safely surrendered and was eventually placed with a loving adoptive family.

Coming up on Saturday, November 13th at 10 am, the family and child will return to the fire station to meet with the firefighters who cared for their child and kept them safe after their birth parents made a brave choice to surrender their child.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes

Safe Haven Baby Boxes is an organization in the United States that provides a safe and anonymous way for parents to surrender their babies. These baby boxes are installed at fire stations and medical facilities across the country. When a parent places their baby inside one of these boxes, it locks automatically, and an alert is sent to emergency responders. They can retrieve the baby within minutes, ensuring the child’s safety.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes are currently located in three Texas cities: Lubbock Fire Station #9, Abilene Fire Station #7, and Corsicana Fire Station #2.

Hopefully, more babies will continue to be saved because of these baby boxes and the Safe Haven laws.