A Fire and Rescue New South Wales (FRNSW) unit quickly responded to a situation involving a woman giving birth prematurely at a hotel in Bundanoon, located in the Southern Highlands. The emergency call was made to Triple Zero (000) around 3 pm, prompting a swift arrival by the Bundanoon Fire Station team.
Rapid Response by Community First Responders
A pivotal figure in this emergency was Firefighter Roberto Gnecchi-Ruscone, who had recently completed a refresher course in pediatric assessment three days prior. Roberto is trained under FRNSW’s Community First Responder (CFR) program, which equips firefighters with advanced medical assistance capabilities.
Upon reaching the scene, the fire crew was directed to a room where two housekeepers and the hotel receptionist were aiding the expectant mother, identified as “Agum.” As her contractions neared only a minute apart, Roberto and his colleagues swiftly demonstrated their readiness, aligning with FRNSW's motto, "Prepared for Anything." They engaged with paramedics through a joint first responder app for live assistance.
Seamless Delivery Thanks to Joint Effort
Within mere minutes, the baby girl, named “Deborah,” was delivered smoothly, albeit earlier than expected. The newborn was placed with her mother before both were evaluated by NSW Ambulance paramedics and subsequently taken to the hospital. Fortunately, both mother and child are reported to be in good health. To commemorate this unique experience, the fire crew gifted the newborn a FRNSW teddy bear.
Volunteer to Professional: A Hotel Manager's Commitment
The hotel manager, who happened to be present during the event, shared with the fire crew that he recently signed up as an On-Call FRNSW firefighter. Witnessing the maternity emergency firsthand reinforced his determination to contribute to his community through firefighting.
The FRNSW CFR program enables firefighters in various towns across the state to offer essential, life-saving medical interventions, furthering their capacity to support community health and safety.
