The Saskatoon Fire Department had a unique call on Monday that you could say was a labour of love. A primary care paramedic with the fire department helped deliver a baby boy.
The special delivery call came in at 5:45 p.m. from a mom in labour — what the fire department described in a statement as “imminent childbirth.”
The crew arrived as the mom was already starting to have the baby. The fire department paramedic was rushed in to assist, and the bundle of joy was welcomed into the world.
“On arrival the crew entered the house and found the mother and father upstairs in a bedroom and were planning on a home birth, but things were moving faster than anticipated,” a Saskatoon Fire Department spokesperson told CTV News.
When the pair couldn’t reach their midwife, they called 911 and fire personnel were dispatched.
Two paramedics assessed the mother as she started having a contraction and the baby was crowning. As the fire paramedic prepared for the birth, the delivery progressed with a second contraction started and the baby’s head was delivered.
A short while later a third contraction began and the baby was delivered.
“The baby was healthy and was being cared for by the mom,” the fire department said.
The fire paramedics continued to assess the mom and baby while waiting for an ambulance to arrive - which arrived approximately five minutes after the delivery.
Care of the mom and baby were turned over to the ambulance paramedics.
“Things obviously happened quickly, and the professionalism and training of the fire paramedics ensured everything went well.”
Fire crews work together. While one fire paramedic was in charge of the delivery, a second fire paramedic assisted him. A third firefighter and officer assisted with the family.
This was the first baby the fire paramedic had delivered.
The Saskatoon Fire Department said it’s “very proud of the hard work and dedication of the fire crew at this important and exciting call.”
“Congratulations go out to the parents on their new baby boy.”
