Paramedic trainee helped deliver baby in breech on way to hospital: 'I knew it could be dangerous'
A Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) paramedic was accompanying a pregnant woman to the hospital in an ambulance when she had severe contraction.
He ended up helping to deliver the baby.
Now a paramedic for three years, Sergeant Umar Mohamed Sobri Bin Mohammad Khair was a trainee at the Tampines Fire Station then.
"We responded to a medical emergency at around 2.30am," he told Rescue 995, an online platform for stories of SCDF personnel and volunteers.
"An expecting mother was experiencing contractions at home and was about to give birth. We conducted our prerequisite medical checks at the home and again in the ambulance, to determine if we had to deliver the baby.
"While en route to the hospital, she experienced another severe contraction with imminent signs of delivery."
They stopped the ambulance at a safe place to commence with the delivery.
"When I saw the baby’s feet emerging in a breech position, I knew that it could be dangerous and raced to make the necessary adjustments," recounted Sgt Umar.
"Trusting my prior training and my mentor’s guidance, we delivered the baby safely."
From left: CPL (NS) Muhamad Affiq Malik, SGT3 Umar Mohamed Sobri Bin Mohammad Khair, SGT3 Muhammad Aizat Bin Mohamad Salim and WO1 Muhammad Husnul Bin Halim with the baby after the safe delivery. Photo: Singapore Civil Defence Force
That was not the only memorable incident shared by Rescue 995 on May 25.
Staff Sergeant Ahmad Syafie Bin Sheikh Najib Bagharib recalled rushing up 12 storeys to fight a fire at Bedok Reservoir Road one night at around 3am.
The Fire and Rescue Specialist and Emergency Medical Technician said: "I felt that getting up to the fire through the 12 flights of stairs was no less challenging than fighting the fire itself!"
[Rescue 995 — Protecting Us From Dusk Till Dawn] While our city sleeps, our dedicated SCDF frontliners remain vigilant... Posted by Singapore Civil Defence Force on Thursday 30 May 2024
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