Three Rock Hill firefighters are being praised for helping bring a baby girl, Mia, into the world last month.
It was an experience they were well prepared for, according to Capt. Chris Summers.
“We actually went through OB training just the week before,” said Capt. Summers. “We used mannequins and things of that nature.”
On August 24, the real thing happened on the kitchen floor of the Laquidaras' home. Mom Erin went into labor unexpectedly. The contractions were so strong, she couldn’t even make it to the car.
“I was crawling, said Erin. “I couldn’t even walk. I said, 'There’s no way I'm going to make it down the flights of stairs so you going to have to call 911.'”
In just a matter of minutes, firefighter John Parrish, Capt. Summers and Lt. Jason Vrooman arrived on scene. Mia’s big brother directed them to the right place.
“My four-year-old is on the porch yelling, 'The baby’s in here, the baby’s in here!” said dad Edward as he jokingly reenacted his son.
The directions helped the fire crews.
“I look at firefighter Parrish and said, 'I need all the medical equipment,'" said Capt. Summers. “Probably about halfway up the stairs, I hear the little boy run to the outside, and he looks dead at me and says, 'I see the head.'”
Two minutes later, Mia was born. Her parents honored the firefighters with a stork pin for all of their hard work.
“It’s a pin that honors first responders for delivering a baby,” said Edward.
The firefighters were grateful for the honor.
“It makes you happy; it puts a point on why we do the job we do,” said Lt. Jason Vrooman.
“It’s a good feeling especially being new,” said firefighter Josh Parrish.
Fire officials said less than one percent of firefighters help deliver babies outside of a medical facility.
