VIDEO: Members of the Bucksport Fire Department say a mother and her newborn are doing great after members of the department helped deliver the baby early Tuesday morning in the back of an ambulance. “It couldn’t have been any more perfect, the best type of delivery,” said Captain Pam Payson, Firefighter and EMT with Bucksport Fire.
It was a typical night shift for the fire department, that’s until crews were called to assist a young woman in labor. “When we got there there was no crowding whatsoever and as we set up our equipment, mom felt the need to push and in one fell swoop we had a baby boy,” said Captain Payson. Baby Loki entered the world at 3:33 a.m., much to the surprise of his parents Tessa and CJ of Orland, and the paramedics. “Dad was great, mom did a great job, we’re the support crew, we don’t deliver the baby, mom and dad we’re amazing,” said Captain Payson.
While it was captain Payson’s third delivery in her career, this experience was a first for firefighter and EMT Brody Mingo. “It was an honor, it’s a rare opportunity, people never get, we were lucky enough to be on shift that night,” said Mingo. “Going into a call for the first time with any situation is going to be overwhelming, we train to be comfortable in uncomfortable situations.”
They say it was the dispatchers at the Hancock County Regional Communication Center that helped keep everybody calm amid the chaos. “Of course you remember a little something about every call that you take, but this one will stick with you because you were essentially with them while they were having this baby,” said Dispatcher Madelyn Gardner. “It feels pretty cool to be part of bringing life, so I mean it’s one of those things that will stick with you for a while, if not forever,” said Gardner.
The first responders say it was certainly a learning moment they’ll never forget. “We get a lot of bad parts, we get long days, bad calls but this makes it worth it, it is refreshing, reminds you that we’re here for a reason and we do what we do because we love it and we’re able to help people,” said Mingo.
