FDNY- Delivering Baby Near Lincoln Tunnel

Published: September 2, 2015

FDNY MEMBERS DELIVER BABY IN CAR OUTSIDE LINCOLN TUNNEL

(left to right) EMS Lieutenant Rezaur Rahman and Paramedic Amanda Henry from Station 7, and EMTs Christopher Maldonado and Matthew Herzog from Station 8.

Monday, August 31, members from EMS Stations 7 and 8 in Manhattan, delivered a baby in a car outside the Lincoln Tunnel in Manhattan. This was the first delivery for all four members involved.

EMTs Christopher Maldonado and Matthew Herzog from Station 8 were the first FDNY members to arrive on-scene, where they found Port Authority personnel comforting the mother.

“It’s the most nervous I have ever been,” said Herzog, a two-year-veteran of the Department. “You just react. I am glad everyone was there - it takes more than one person to deliver a baby.”

When the EMTs approached the vehicle, the mother was in the back seat with the baby crowning - there was no time to transport there mother to the hospital or even to move her. The head began to emerge and the mother was ready and calm. Maldonado joined Herzog and cut the cord as Herzog held the little girl, who was responding to stimuli.

“I did not want to let her go,” said Herzog. “There was a moment when I forgot about everything else and had to be reminded that it was time for us to transport her and mom to the hospital. It was really extraordinary.”

Joined by Paramedics - 7-year-veteran Lee Castro and 5-year-veteran Amanda Henry - from Station 7, mother and child were transported to Roosevelt Hospital.

“No one expects to deliver a baby outside the Lincoln Tunnel, inside a car,” said Henry, a 5-year veteran. “You can’t always expect to be in the most comfortable situation, so we really are trained for every possibility - our training is really every day.”

FDNY members involved in the delivery addressed the press. (left to right) EMS Lieutenant Rezaur Rahman and Paramedic Amanda Henry from Station 7, and EMTs Matthew Herzog and Christopher Maldonado from Station 8.

“It was a great joy for all of us,” said EMS Lieutenant Rezaur Rahman, a 9-year-veteran stationed at EMS Station 7 who responded to the scene. “We always respond to people in their last moments and it is rare and great when we see the beginning of life - it is a great feeling.”