In light of the New Mexico city of Hobbs announcing the first-time usage of its Safe Haven Baby Box, the city of Odessa has advised citizens that Odessa Fire Rescue (OFR) stations are places where a parent can give their baby up.
"They do have to physically hand over the child to someone," the city said in a September 26th Facebook post.
According to a report from Odessa CBS station KOSA News, Fire Chief Jason Cotton wants the city to have what Hobbs has, and that’s the concept of anonymity in relation to parents leaving their babies at OFR facilities.
"It’s worth having a discussion over," Cotton said in the report. "To me it’s very important."
The box in Hobbs is credited for saving the newborn’s life on September 26th, mere months after it was installed at the Hobbs Fire Department (HFD). The device can take infants up to 90 days old with no repercussions due to the parents. It is climate controlled and provides sufficient oxygen.
The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) explains on its website that the Safe Haven Law, colloquially known as the "Baby Moses Law," allows parents to drop their newborns off with an employee at a designated safe place such as a hospital or a fire station. The baby will subsequently receive medical attention and be placed with an emergency provider, DFPS said.