Amesbury Fire Chief Kenneth Berkenbush hands a traditional, “Special Delivery” blue stork pin to Firefighter-Paramedic James Bateman after he and four other Amesbury firefighters assisted with delivering a baby boy last week. (Photograph courtesy of Amesbury Fire Rescue.)
Amesbury Fire Rescue paramedics successfully delivered a baby boy early last week.
Fire Chief Kenneth E. Berkenbush said Friday the department responded to call made by a woman in labor at her home last Tuesday. He and Amesbury Firefighter-Paramedics James Bateman and Carl Rizzo and Firefighter-EMTs Ryan York, Jamie Clark and Brian Dickson responded.
When firefighters arrived at the home, they determined there was not enough time to move the woman safely to an ambulance,and the baby would have to be delivered inside the house. Minutes later, the mother delivered her son at 2:30 p.m. Paramedics reported both mom and baby were doing well upon arrival at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport.
“Too often we respond to incidents that don’t have happy outcomes, so being able to help bring a new life into the world is a very moving experience,” Berkenbush said. “This was a team effort and I want to thank each of the firefighters who helped deliver this baby boy for making the experience run so smoothly.”
All five firefighters who assisted with the delivery received the traditional “Special Delivery,” blue stork lapel pins.