In an effort to provide a safe alternative for parents experiencing a crisis, the City has unveiled a new Safe Haven Baby Box at the Gatlinburg Fire Department Station No. 2. The box, located at 309 Reagan Drive, is designed to allow a parent to safely and legally surrender a newborn anonymously, circumventing face-to-face interaction. According to an announcement by the City of Gatlinburg, this initiative aims to offer support to those in desperate situations.
At the dedication ceremony, City Manager Greg Patterson emphasized the deeper meaning behind the Baby Box, stating, “This Baby Box is more than a piece of equipment. It is a symbol of hope. It is a promise that in those rare moments when a parent is in crisis, when fear and uncertainty feel overwhelming, our community offers a safe place, a legal place, a loving place to surrender an infant without shame, without judgment, and without risk,” he told the City of Gatlinburg's website. He reassured potential users of the box that their children would be cared for and that the community of Gatlinburg holds every life as precious.
The operational function of the Baby Box allows a parent to safely place an infant inside, after which both the internal and external doors automatically lock. An immediate alarm is then triggered, swiftly notifying the on-duty firefighters and EMS personnel within the station. The secured infant can be reached in seconds and transported quickly to a hospital for medical evaluation and care.
The installation of the Baby Box at Station No. 2 was realized through the combined efforts of the City of Gatlinburg, the Gatlinburg Fire Department, and the Gatlinburg City Commission. Additionally, members of the community, such as Dorothy Johnson, passionately supported the initiative, and Horner Building Company generously donated the construction services. Jessi Getrost of Safe Haven Baby Boxes extolled the actions of parents who choose to utilize the box, saying, “It takes a very brave parent to surrender their infant and give them a chance for a loving, caring home,” as she conveyed to the City of Gatlinburg.
This box is the 401st Safe Haven Baby Box to be installed in the United States and the 26th in Tennessee, all operating under Tennessee’s Safe Haven laws. These regulations permit the confidential surrender of unharmed newborns at designated facilities, which include hospitals and staffed fire stations. For individuals seeking more information regarding the Gatlinburg Safe Haven Baby Box, contact details for the Gatlinburg Fire Department have been provided at 865-436-5112.
