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A newborn baby was found inside a box at a fire department in Indiana, United States.
One night in April, veteran firefighter Lieutenant /luˈtɛn ənt/ Chuck Kohler was heading to the grocery when he received an alarm from the Coolspring Township Volunteer Fire Department through his pager. The alarm turned out to be a notification that there was a baby inside the station’s “baby box.”
Upon arriving at the station, Kohler heard the cries of a baby. As a father, Kohler explained that his paternal instincts pushed him to check if the baby was free from injuries.
Indiana has an existing law that allows a person to leave a baby at medical facilities, police stations, and fire stations without being prosecuted. The Indiana Safe Haven Law also does not require parents to provide any personal information as long as the baby shows no signs of abuse.
Once found, the babies left in the box will undergo medical examinations and necessary treatments. After that, they will be placed under the custody of the Indiana Department of Child Services.
The “baby box” at the fire department was installed two years ago by an organization called Safe Haven Baby Boxes. Aside from having heating and cooling units that help babies adjust to extreme weather conditions, the box can also send a call to 911 when it is opened.
It was in November 2017 when this box was first used. At that time, someone left a newborn baby girl. She was named Baby Hope by the firefighters who found her.