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Local Voices

Fallon Ambulance awards 'stork pins' to firefighters for baby delivery role


CONTACT:  Colleen Rielly, Fallon Ambulance, crielly@fallonambulance.com, (617) 745-2116

(Media): Jim Farrell, PR First, 781-681-6616, jfarrell@prfirst .com

 

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Fallon Ambulance presents Stork Pins to Brookline Fire Department’s Justin Robinson and Ned Stevens in recognition of their skills in a St. Patrick’s Day delivery of Brookline baby

 

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BROOKLINE, MA --Brookline Firefighters (Lieutenant) Justin Robinson and Ned Stevens are recipients of the Fallon Ambulance Service “Stork Pins,” awarded for their professionalism, compassion and quick thinking in the delivery of a baby boy to his Brookline parents on the morning of St. Patrick’s Day.

 

For Robinson and Stevens, their shift on the morning of March 17 was a couple of hours away from coming to a close when a phone call came in that changed everything.

 

At 6:15 a.m. the Brookline EMS received a call that a female on Freeman Street was in labor and about to give birth. Both the Brookline Fire Department and Fallon Ambulance Service, the 9-1-1 provider for Brookline, responded to the address. Lieutenant Robinson, a 16-year veteran of the Brookline Fire Department, and Firefighter Ned Stevens, who has been with the department for 10 years, were the two lead responders for the Fire Department, accompanied by firefighters Sean Walsh and Myke Pierre-Louis. They were joined by Fallon paramedics Michael Gallagher and Micah Lefton.

 

Stevens recalled, “When we arrived we found the mother ready to give birth momentarily, and the father on the phone with officials at the hospital.” He continued, “The birth happened quickly but the complication we faced was that the mother’s umbilical cord was wrapped around the neck of the infant. Justin and I grabbed the cord and held it away from the infant to make certain that there was enough air getting to the infant.”

 

Robinson recalls, “We determined that we needed to cut the cord for the infant’s safety.” The father’s advice from the phone call to the hospital was that the cord shouldn’t be cut. However, (Fallon Paramedic) Michael Gallagher was instrumental in talking with the hospital and assuring them that cutting the cord was necessary.” Gallagher cut the cord while Robinson and Stevens held the cord away from the infant.


Robinson remembers, “It was a team effort all around. Sean and Myke were helping with the other aspects of the call so that Ned and I could be where we were.” He added, “And Fallon paramedic Michael Gallagher was instrumental in helping not only with cutting the cord, but calming down the situation between the father and the hospital.”

 

Robinson recalled that Gallagher assured the hospital that everything was under control, and a few moments later, the mother and son were on their way to the hospital in the Fallon vehicle.

 

Robinson notes that this was the first baby delivery for either him or Stevens. He said, “We couldn’t have done what we did without Sean and Myke, and certainly not without Micah or Michael.”

As a result of their efforts, Fallon Ambulance Service awarded the Stork Pins to Robinson and Stevens at a ceremony recently at the Brookline Fire Department.

 

Peter Racicot, Senior Vice President at Fallon Ambulance Service, said, “We are glad to work with such great professionals from the Brookline Fire Department. We thank Ned and Justin for their skills and professionalism. In situations like these, seconds count and all of us who work in Emergency Medical Services know that we have to expect the unexpected.”

 

About Fallon Ambulance

Fallon Ambulance Service was founded in 1923 by James R. Fallon, Sr. Mr. Fallon’s son, James R. (Ray) Fallon, Jr., served as President and owner from 1974 until 2000. Today, Timothy J. Fallon, grandson to the founder, serves as President and CEO.  Tim’s sister Kathleen Mackie, step brothers, Peter Racicot, Senior Vice President and Normand Racicot, Vice President, also represent the third generation of this family business. And a fourth generation represented by 7 great grandchildren of the founder is working in various capacities in the organization. Fallon Ambulance is the largest privately owned and operated ambulance service in the Northeast. Fallon Ambulance employs more than 600 personnel, operates more than 150 vehicles and responds to over 160,000 emergency and non-emergency calls per year.  Fallon Ambulance is the 9-1-1 provider for the municipalities of Milton, Quincy, Brookline, Weymouth, Braintree and Dedham and provides primary backup to Boston and Randolph. Fallon Ambulance Service additionally provides medical transportation for a number of area medical facilities including nursing homes, hospitals, and HMO’s throughout Greater Boston, the South Shore and Metro West region. It is headquartered at 111-115 Brook Road, Quincy, MA and operates satellite offices throughout its coverage area. Fallon Ambulance Service has been recognized many times by various business and community organizations for its exceptional service.  For additional information about Fallon Ambulance Services or programs that the company offers, contact Peter Racicot, Senior Vice President, at (617) 745-2117 or visit www.fallonambulance.com.

 

Photo caption: Brian Luongo, Fallon’s Lieutenant, Field Operations, presents Stork Pins to Lieutenant Justin Robinson and Firefighter Ned Stevens of the Brookline Fire Department.

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