AMR Staff Help Deliver Baby at Patient's Home

JACKSON, Miss. --

The Hinds County Board of Supervisors recognized four American Medical Response staff members and first responders from the Jackson Fire Department Monday for excellence in helping a southwest Jackson mother unexpectedly deliver her baby at home.

The last way an expectant mom would want to deliver her baby is in her sister’s den. But that is exactly what happened to a young pregnant woman when her water broke Dec. 1 and her baby wouldn’t wait to get to a hospital. It was the mother’s first delivery.

The woman’s sister called 9-1-1 and was connected to Lisa Adams, an emergency medical dispatcher at AMR, the ambulance service for Hinds and five other counties in central Mississippi. Adams stayed on the line with the pregnant mom’s sister, telling her what to do and what not to do. At the same time, Adams’ coworker in AMR’s dispatch center, Yulonda Davis, sent the ambulance closest to the scene.

Brian Seale was the paramedic on the ambulance. His partner that day was EMT Joe Fox. Seale and Fox reached the expectant mom’s side less than 11 minutes from the time they were dispatched. Jackson Fire Department EMS coordinator Ricky Haggard arrived the same time.

Seale and Fox prepared for the delivery. Seale told the mom to push hard and on the second push, the baby arrived.

“It was the quickest delivery I’ve ever seen,” Seale said. He has helped several moms give birth outside the hospital.

With help from Jackson Fire Department rescue personnel who had arrived moments later, Seale and Fox then moved mother and child to their ambulance transported them to the hospital.

Thanks to Adams’ first aid instructions by phone and quick response from Seale and Fox, mom and the baby boy both came through just fine.

“Every time, it’s a great joy to know my instructions helped start a newborn’s life,” Adams said. “The mom’s sister did a great job by calling 911 quickly and following my instructions. I felt we were holding hands and going through it together.”

Supervisors presented letters of commendation to the AMR rescuers at the Board’s Monday meeting.