Paramedics helped deliver a baby boy over the weekend. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Paramedics Deliver Baby

It’s a boy: Parkland Ambulance paramedics help deliver baby during crazy weekend

Jul 18, 2022 | 5:00 PM

Hot weather, a sunny weekend, and lots of people on the roads and on the water may account for some of the increased activity for Parkland Ambulance over the weekend. One of their odder calls, however, had nothing to do with the weather.

At 7:55 in the morning on Sunday, July 17, paramedics were called to help a woman going into labor. They ended up helping deliver the baby.

“Most of the time, it’s an uncomplicated, routine maternity call,” said director of public affairs with Parkland Ambulance, Lyle Karasiuk. “But in this case, mom was having no sense of heading to the hospital for what we might call a traditional delivery. Therefore, we delivered a baby boy at home.”

Paramedics have to do home deliveries on occasion, with about six of them a year on average according to Karasiuk. Every time they do it successfully, it’s a point of pride for the department.

“Our communications staff have a little display in their area for our paramedics and our communications team,” Karasiuk said. “They’ll get a nice little baby certificate and a stork pin, pink or blue in this case blue, to signify they’ve delivered a baby.”

GST Holiday

Federal government's two-month GST holiday begins

2h ago

Imminent need

Council set to discuss possible location for homeless shelter on 15th Street

8h ago

International Spotlight

P.A.'s Howe one of 4 Sask. born players named to Canada's World Junior roster

23h ago

According to Karasiuk, the baby is healthy and the call went about as well as it could’ve. Funnily enough, one of the paramedics on this particular call helped deliver his second baby in his time with Parkland Ambulance, even though he hasn’t been with them very long.

“He’s on a roll,” said Karasiuk. “I don’t know if three is going to be the lucky number or more, but we want to send our congratulations again, not only to our team but to the family on the birth of their new baby boy.”

The delivery of a new baby boy may have been one of the more unusual calls of the weekend but it was by no means the only one. In fact, with 161 calls from Friday night until 7:00 on Monday morning, it was an uncommonly busy stretch.

“Normally, an average weekend for us is anywhere between 100 to maybe about 120 incidents,” Karasiuk said. “So we’re getting up there in terms of incidents.”

Karasiuk added this is probably due to the fact that the warmer weather has brought more people into Parkland Ambulance’s area of operation. He also said there were no heat related emergencies for paramedics despite the hotter weather.

—-

rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP