A routine afternoon visit turned unforgettable when a woman gave birth inside Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife Aquarium & Museum in Springfield, Mo., on Dec. 3.
The woman, who has not been publicly identified, went into labor around 3:30 p.m. local time, according to the Springfield News-Leader. Springfield Fire Department crews and Mercy EMTs were dispatched, but the baby arrived before first responders could reach the scene.
Senior emergency medical dispatcher Eli Snider stayed on the phone with the mother’s companion and guided them through the delivery, a call that lasted about seven minutes, the outlet reported.
“It can help really reassure the caller and the patient that there is someone there and they are listening and they’re there to help them,” Snider told the outlet. “Because I think sometimes when people call 911, they think, you know, ‘they just send the ambulance and don’t do anything else.’ But we’re always there to help with any kind of situation like that.”
Snider later told Fox 2 Now that this was one of the first births he’s helped manage over the phone. “I’ll go down a pregnancy card and ask questions like, ‘Is this your first pregnancy? Do you have any complications? Can you see any part of the baby now?’ ” he explained. “The caller on the other end of the line, they’re your eyes. They’re your ears and your hands. You just guide them on what you need done.”
“These parties were calm and very helpful. They were willing to do what you asked them to do,” added Snider, a former paramedic. “You can’t always get people to listen, but the key is just a calm approach. You’ve got to be the calmest one on the phone.”
Springfield Fire Captain Sean Jackson with Ladder 9 was among those who responded to the 911 call, per the Springfield News-Leader. When fire crews arrived, the baby had already been born. They helped clear the newborn’s airway, clamp and cut the umbilical cord, and wrap the baby in a towel to keep them warm.
