by Kim Gebbia
SHACKLE ISLAND, Tenn. - Firefighters in Sumner County got the surprise of their career Tuesday morning when a routine call turned into a last minute delivery on the bathroom floor.
When firefighters got to the house, they realized it was up to them to make sure both mother and baby made it to the hospital alive.
"Everybody was getting ready to start their day and we got the page," said responder David Frost.
The page to the Shackle Island Volunteer Fire Department was one they had received dozens of times before.
"I was at the usual coffee group and we heard tones go off for an OB emergency," recalled EMT Dick Dickerson.
But these volunteers didn't realize this OB emergency would be unlike any other. Here is how the 911 call came in to dispatchers:
Dispatch: 911 What is your location? Do you need police, fire or medical?
Caller: I need an emergency, I think my daughter is going into labor.
Within 2 minutes of that call, Dick Dickerson arrived at the home, thinking he would be transporting the woman to the hospital. But the baby on the way had other plans, it was ready to be born right there on the bathroom floor.
"As soon as we turned into the bathroom we knew what we were going to be doing, we were going to be delivering a baby," said Dickerson.
"She was in a lot of pain, she knew she was giving birth, and when we got there the baby was crowning and we could see the head as soon as we walked in," recalled Frost.
David Frost is 27. He has no children of his own and he has never even witnessed a birth. But, he quickly realized, a baby and mother's life now rested in his bare hands.
"It happened so fast, we didn't have time to think," said Frost.
The two immediately relied on training they take every year.
"We just started coaching, got her to push the little lady out," said Frost.
"I would say we were not there more than 2 to 3 minutes before the delivery was complete," said Dickerson.
Seconds that matter when so many things could have gone wrong.
"The baby could have breached could have had an arm and a leg out there could have been many complications," said Bobbie Baker who was third on scene.
Instead, the little girl was born safely on a bathroom floor. Her mother left for the hospital with an incredible story to tell, and these volunteer firefighters received more real world training then they ever bargained for.
"It was pretty neat I was smiling from ear to ear," said Frost.
This was the first time any of the firefighters have had to deliver a baby on site. They did go to the hospital Tuesday afternoon to bring mom and baby a few presents and said both are doing just fine.
Firefighters do receive yearly training on how to deliver a baby and carry delivery kits with them to all calls.
Email: kgebbia@newschannel5.com
