HUDSON — Fire Chief Jamie Desautels and Police Chief Richard DiPersio report that the Hudson Fire and Police Departments responded Wednesday to a report of a woman in labor and assisted with a home delivery.
On Wednesday, Oct. 16, at approximately 12:30 p.m., the Hudson Police and Fire Departments and Patriot Ambulance were all dispatched to home in town for a medical emergency reporting a woman in labor.
Dispatcher Joe Fournier handled the call and, with assistance from his partner, Dispatcher Peter Ryan, dispatched the appropriate emergency crews while also providing Emergency Medical Dispatch instructions over the telephone.
Police Officer Ron Mace arrived at the scene, as did Fire Lt. Matthew LaBossiere, and Firefighters Richard Hubert and Jonathan Nemergut, to discover that the baby was already born.
The father and the mother’s sister helped the mother deliver the baby using instructions from Dispatcher Fournier.
Firefighters took over care of the mother and baby until the arrival of Patriot paramedics Rebecca Ward and Joe Frances and Patriot EMT Nick Arcouette. First responders prepared the baby for transport and transported mother and baby to a local hospital for further care and evaluation.
As of Friday, mother, father and a new baby girl were doing well and resting at comfortably at home.
“From Dispatcher Fournier’s calm and professional approach to this call, to the quick response of firefighters, police and paramedics, this call makes me proud of the entire team of first responders who used a combined effort to ensure this new family was okay despite the dramatic circumstances of the birth,” said Chief Desautels. “It’s refreshing to see such a positive outcome to a call in this line of work, where not all calls have such happy endings.”
“Dispatchers are often unsung heroes because the public really never sees the face behind the voice, but this incident shows how vital the role that dispatchers play really is,” said Chief DiPersio. “I’d like to say how proud I am of Dispatcher Fournier for his calmness and professionalism while dealing with this call.”
To listen to audio of Dispatcher Fournier guiding the family through the birth, click here.
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