Orange County 911 Dispatcher Gerald Lewis is being credited for using his training to help walk a couple through delivering a baby in their vehicle.
Early in the morning on Saturday, April 2, 2022, Lewis received a 911 call placed by a male caller requesting medical assistance for his wife. The couple was driving on Interstate 84 attempting to get to the hospital because the wife was in labor. However, he water broke and there was no time to get to the hospital.
First, Lewis ensured the vehicle was pulled safely off the road. Lewis, who is a certified Emergency Medical Dispatcher with an abundance of training, gave vital instructions to the husband to assist with the imminent delivery of the baby.
Once the baby was delivered, the umbilical cord was wrapped around the neck. Lewis provided instructions to remove the cord and ensured the baby was breathing.
“Dispatcher Lewis’s calm demeanor along with his precise, compassionate, and appropriate instructions provided critical life safety care that ensured the best outcome for both mother and baby,” the Orange County 911 Center noted in a public statement. “We are proud to have Dispatcher Lewis as a part of our team.”
Shortly after birth, the New York State Police and Port Jervis Ambulance Corps arrived and took over care for both the mother and baby. Both patients were transported to Garnet Health Medical Center.
