Groton firefighters help with birth of baby in parking lot

GROTON — A brand new baby boy was born on Saturday, in a car in a local parking lot, thanks to help from the Groton Fire Department.

Just before 3:30 p.m. Saturday, the Fire Department got the call from the dispatcher “for a vehicle in a parking lot of a local business with a woman who said her water had broke,” said Fire Chief Arthur Cheeks.

“Our Engine 3 happened to be in the area and responded immediately,” Cheeks said.

“Our crews confirmed (that the woman was about to have a baby) and within minutes the baby was born,” said Cheeks, who noted that of the three responding firefighters, at least two, and possibly all three, had experience helping deliver a baby.

“Both mother and baby were healthy,” Cheeks said, adding that the baby was early in its term, thus the unexpected delivery.

Firefighters helping at the scene were Lt. Tyler Shute, firefighter-EMT Chris Braun and EMT Gibson McCullagh, with help from the Groton Police Department, Littleton ambulance and Groton ambulance. The ambulances took the family to UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester.

“Really, it just comes down to training, it’s not like we do this often,” Cheeks said.

“You’re thrust into the situation and you have to rely on your training and you have to rely on the mother’s lead … you look to mom,” for guidance, he said.

“The crew just jumped into really doing what’s best for baby and mom, and evaluation of the baby and the mother, and everything that the crews did was spot-on, top-notch and it was a very positive outcome,” Cheeks said. He added that he got a call from the hospital on Tuesday saying, “mom and baby are doing just fine.”

Cheeks said he’s reached out to the family, which he said he believes is from Pepperell, and hopes to set up a reunion with between the family and the firefighters who helped deliver their baby.

He said those firefighters will receive commendation pins for their efforts.

“This isn’t something that happens very often,” said Cheeks, “so we need to celebrate the work they did, which resulted in a very joyful and positive outcome.”