Dix Hills Fire Department Delivers Baby Boy

The Dix Hills Fire Department received an emergency 911 call from a Dix Hills husband after his pregnant wife went into labor on Monday, August 8, at 7:29 p.m. After the woman’s water broke and her contractions were five minutes apart just two days before her due date, the couple got into their car at their Crawford Drive home and realized they weren’t going to make it to the hospital in time.

The 911 call brought the arrival of Dix Hills First Assistant Chief Tom Napolitano, Second Assistant Chief Alan Berkowitz, a Paramedic Responder and two Dix Hills ambulance crews. Arriving just a few minutes after the 911 call, EMT’s found the woman to be in a lot of pain. Dix Hills Rescue Squad Lieutenant EMT Meagan Pereira went into the car to check the mother and the head of the baby was already crowning. Pereira gently guided the baby out and held the baby until he was born at 7:35 p.m. Paramedic Chris Tremblay suctioned the baby boy and when the newborn was determined to be stable, Lieutenant Pereira clamped and cut the umbilical cord.

The baby and mother were taken to the ambulance where the baby was warmed up. EMT-CC Chief Berkowitz held and suctioned the baby as Paramedic Tremblay assisted the mother. Suffolk County Police also responded and provided an escort and blocked traffic for the ambulance on the way to Huntington Hospital.

Also assisting in the delivery were EMT’s Louis Aquino, Thomas Nostramo and Driver Matthew Antretter on the first ambulance, as well as EMT’s Jonna Brady, Martin Levy, and Driver Hillary Bogi on the second ambulance. After arriving at the hospital, the baby was brought right to the nursery and the proud dad was hugging and kissing the rescue squad crew.

This was the second baby for the Dix Hills couple. The baby’s name  Blaise and pronounced “Blaze” was decided months ago, but very appropriate since he was delivered by the Dix Hills Fire Department. According to his mom. he came into this world “like a blaze of glory.”

This was the first baby delivered for Chief Berkowitz and Lieutenant Pereira, and the second for Paramedic Tremblay.

Story /Photos By Steve Silverman