CHARDON, Ohio — A new climate-controlled Safe Haven Baby Box is now operational at the Chardon Fire Department, offering parents a legal and anonymous way to safely surrender a newborn without fear of prosecution.

The device was installed this week on the southeast side of the station at 110 South Hambden St., in the alley between the firehouse and Pilgrim Christian Church. Local clergy blessed the box before it was placed into service.

Safe Haven Baby Boxes are designed so a parent can open a secure, heated compartment, place a newborn inside and walk away. Once the door closes, it locks automatically and triggers an alert for on-duty firefighters, who retrieve the infant within minutes.

Under Ohio’s Safe Haven law, a mother who uses the device is never subject to criminal charges, off

See Full Page