Huntington Community First Aid Squad(HCFAS) Volunteers Deliver Baby Girl in Ambulance

Huntington Community First Aid Squad (HCFAS) is pleased to announce a special delivery. On Monday, November 16, 2015 the Monday 1900-2300 volunteers were proud to be a part of delivering a healthy baby girl.

HCFAS volunteers Tyler Gibbs, Linda Guadagnin, Beatrice Martinez, Karen Martin, and Jill Decker

HCFAS dispatcher, Beatrice Martinez, was notified of the call at 7:11 p.m. and dispatched an ambulance to the scene. The call came as a pregnancy/imminent delivery on Reynolds Street in Huntington Station.

When the crew of four volunteers arrived at the home, the expectant mother told them her water had broken and her contractions were three minutes apart. The crew assisted the mother of four into the back of the ambulance. EMT-B Linda Guadagnin drove the ambulance to Huntington Hospital while EMT-CC Tyler Gibbs, EMT-B Karen Martin, and First Aider Jill Decker assessed and monitored the patient.

As Guadagnin proceeded with lights and sirens to the hospital, the baby had other plans for the HCFAS volunteers. In the back of the ambulance, Martin reports that the mother told the crew that the baby was coming. Upon inspection, Martin said there was no crowning evident. A few minutes later the mother stated again “the baby is really coming”. When Martin checked for a second time, she was able to see the baby’s head.

The crew aided the woman in the back of the ambulance through the childbirth.  They helped to safely deliver her fifth child, a healthy 6 lb. 8 oz. baby girl, named Ayza. The baby, who entered the world at 7:24 p.m. was delivered by Martin. The cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck and Gibbs successfully removed it. Gibbs then cut and clamped the cord, cleaned, wrapped, and warmed the infant as the crew monitored both baby and mother. Both were doing well as they were admitted to Huntington Hospital.

While EMT’s transport pregnant mothers to the hospital all the time, it’s rare that the baby is born during the ride. For Karen Martin, a 20 year Registered Nurse and 10 year HCFAS volunteer, this was her first delivery. “I was elated and very excited,” said Martin.  When she returned to headquarters people commented that she was glowing and beaming. She added, “I had an overdose call the week before that didn’t make it, so this call was a nice one for me.”

One crew member has more experience with babies born in ambulances. It was the third baby delivered for Tyler Gibbs who joined HCFAS as a teenager in their Explorer Post Youth Squad. When qualified, he immediately joined HCFAS and he has been a volunteer member for the last 6 years. He went on to obtain his EMT-Critical Care certification.

Family is the reason that Beatrice Martinez joined HCFAS almost a year ago. Her aunt, Cecilia Renderos and great aunt and uncle, Reina and Oscar Gomez are all volunteers at HCFAS. “That was my first childbirth call and I’m very excited to have been a part of it,” Martinez said.  She is currently training to be a First Aider and is interested in going to school to become a nurse.