SIERRAVILLE, Calif. – Engine 362 from the Tahoe National Forest Sierraville Ranger District recently put its emergency medical services training into action for a moment of joy. The crew responded to a call about a woman in labor in a parking lot near the Sierraville fire station.
Engine boss and emergency medical technician Krystal Benn and engine boss trainee and EMT Louis Siqueido briefed the crew. They had the engine en route within its two-minute response standard.
When the crew arrived, the soon-to-be-mom was showing clear signs of active labor. Siqueido managed scene safety, assigned crew roles and handled radio communications. EMTs Caden Drefs and Evan Souza and firefighter Dylan Lopez prepared the obstetric kit from the engineβs medical equipment while Benn provided primary patient care.
About four minutes after Engine 362 arrived, the baby was born.
The crew immediately provided care for the newborn, including removing a loose umbilical cord, clearing the airway, drying and warming, clamping the umbilical cord and completing an APGAR assessment. The APGAR score looks at appearance, pulse, grimace reflex, activity and respiration. Once additional responders arrived, Engine 362 worked alongside the Loyalton and Sierra County volunteer fire departments before transferring care to Eastern Plumas Health Care Ambulance. The ambulance transported the mother and baby to Tahoe Forest Hospital.
The response demonstrates how emergency medical services training and equipment prepare Forest Service employees to respond when medical emergencies occur. In this case, Engine 362βs training allowed the crew to quickly organize, provide immediate patient care and coordinate with local emergency responders until the mother and newborn could be transported to the hospital.
And, most importantly, mother and child are healthy and doing fine.
The baby delivery squad (left to right), Evan Souza, Dylan Lopez, Krystal Benn, Louis Siqueido and Caden Drefs, purchased stork pins to commemorate the occasion. (Forest Service photo by Evan Souza)
