BRADFORD — Emergency Medical Service volunteers, both EMT and paramedics, find themselves in any number of situations.
For Bradford Rescue Squad members Aaron Kuhn, Chris Hensley, Josh Hoelscher, and Tiffany Wysong, May 9 will forever be a “red letter” day.
At 8 a.m. that morning, the Bradford Squad was dispatched to a call of a pregnant woman in labor. When they arrived at the Bradford home of Courtney Clack, the squad members prepared Clack for transport to Upper Valley Medical Center, loaded her into the waiting medic unit, and headed toward the hospital.
The team was in constant contact with the hospital as they headed east on U.S. 36 and into Covington. As they headed out of Covington, it became apparent that Clack and her baby were not going to be able to wait until they reached the UVMC OB department.
The decision was made to stop the medic and deliver the delivery.
As the birth proceeded, it was discovered that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby boy’s neck. Working quickly and methodically, squad members unwrapped the cord, created an airway, and the baby began to breathe normally.
“All other appropriate care was provided to the mother and baby,” said UVMC EMS Coordinator Mark Senseman. “The crew did an excellent job of keeping the hospital informed during the transport including early notification.”
Clack’s son weighed 9 pounds 13 ounces and was 22 1/2 inches long. Benjamin Brown rode the remainder of the trip with his mom. The pair stayed at UVMC for two days and were released.
On Sunday evening, the four Bradford Rescue Squad members invited Courtney and Benjamin to the firehouse. They were presented with gifts as the EMS members took turns holding little Benjamin, beaming proudly at the baby they helped to enter the world.
For the squad members on the run, it was perhaps the perfect combination of experience. Both Kuhn and Hensley have more than half-dozen deliveries, each, under their belt. For Hoelscher and Wysong, helping to deliver Benjamin was their first delivery.
While Bradford’s Rescue Squad has participated in a number of births over the years, last Monday’s delivery was the first to actually take place in the back of one of the medics.
As for Clack, when asked about her thoughts, “They did really good and I’m really thankful.”
The four members of the Bradford Rescue Squad have all volunteered for additional duties as babysitters any time that Clack needs one.
