“One of our most rewarding calls”: High Springs firefighters help deliver baby girl at fire station

BY AMBER THIBODAUX

HIGH SPRINGS, Fla. – Shortly before 5 a.m. on Friday, firefighters at the High Springs Fire Department (HSFD) received a “pregnancy call” at Fire Station 29; the call came in from a couple who were en route from Live Oak to UF Health Shands when they dialed 911 and told the operator they didn’t believe they would make it to the hospital before the baby’s arrival.

According to an HSFD press release, the crew, under the command of Captain Andy Burkhalter, recognized that the baby’s arrival was imminent and acted swiftly. Firefighter (FF) /Paramedic Jon Friend and FF/Paramedic Jake Rhoden skillfully assisted in safely delivering the baby girl, who was born at approximately 33 weeks gestation. FF/EMT Clinton Drake applied cord clamps, while FF/Paramedic Doug Hope aided the new father in cutting the cord. 

Following the delivery, the mother and newborn baby were transported to the hospital by Alachua County Fire Rescue. 

Rhoden said his adrenaline was high, once he assessed the situation. “We assessed the patient and quickly realized that there was no waiting on getting to the hospital – that this baby was coming right now. A few moments later, the mother was holding a beautiful baby girl, while dad got to cut the cord and we all sang ‘Happy Birthday.’ It was such an awesome moment,” Rhoden recalled.

Rhoden continued, “Jon Friend was really the driving force on the call. He showed great composure and was able to keep the mother calm and give good directions while the baby was being delivered. For Jon, Drake, and myself, this was our first delivery in the four years that we have been in this field. I think I speak for all of us that it was definitely one of our most rewarding calls.”

Rhoden said it was a welcome change to have a call where “the family was having the best day of their life… In what we do, 99% of our calls are going to people who are having the worst day of their lives, and we very rarely know the outcome once they are dropped off at the hospital. It was truly a memorable experience and a great reminder of why we love this job.”

Rhoden praised Burkhalter and Hope and said that having them on the scene eased the stress. “Knowing that, combined, they have over 50 years of experience and have delivered a handful of babies in their respective careers – just a year and a half ago, Captain Burkhalter was a helping hand in delivering a baby on the opposite side of the station,” Rhoden said.

Reflecting on the event, FF/Paramedic Jon Friend added, “After the baby was born, I was speechless. It was an emotion you rarely feel with the job. It’s not every day you get to deliver a baby.” 

Rhoden credited the leadership at HSFD for the high level of training provided and thanked the High Springs community at large for their support of first responders: “[In High Springs] we pride ourselves on training to not only get things right, but to not get things wrong – and through leadership and training, it was a great outcome. One of the biggest honors we have is to be able to serve such a great community with great people; knowing we were able to help this young family in their time of need is a valuable reminder of why we love this job. It was an honor to be a part of it.”

In its press release, the High Springs Fire Department extended “heartfelt congratulations to the new parents” and wished them “a lifetime of joy and happiness with their newest family member.”