DES MOINES, Iowa — MercyOne in Des Moines unveiled its new Safe Haven Baby Box on Tuesday morning, which could help save more lives in central Iowa.
It is the second baby box now in the state after first responders introduced one in Fort Dodge nearly one year ago.
Parents are allowed to leave an infant in these boxes because of the "Safe Haven Act," which was passed in 2002. Since then, 71 infants have been surrendered and placed in the State of Iowa's custody.
"This box offers no shame, no blame and no names," said Mariah Betz, with Safe Haven Baby Boxes.
The boxes allow any parent wanting to surrender their child, born in the past 90 days or less, to do so safely and anonymously at any time of day. All the parent has to do is open the door and place the baby into the box, which holds a small, temperature-regulated cradle.
There is a one-minute delay after the baby is surrendered, and then the system sends a signal to hospital staff notifying them that an infant has been placed in the box.
Betz said at Tuesday's unveiling ceremony that she's "very passionate about giving mothers another option to safely surrender their babies anonymously and lovingly."
According to the Safe Haven Baby Box organization, 50 babies have been safely surrendered nationwide since 2017.