By KIMBERLY ACEVEDO
The Long Beach Fire Department was wrapping up a call for a gas leak on Ohio Avenue when suddenly a van pulled up and the driver began screaming that his wife was having a baby.
With Tensesaca's contractions only three minutes apart, members of the fire department immediately sprung into action. Three minutes later, an ambulance was on the scene, assistant chief Scott Kemins said. Firefighters Matthew Fichtelberg and Eileen DiBari, an emergency medical technician, arrived with the ambulance.
Since Long Beach Medical Center doesn't have a maternity ward, Tensesaca of Sunnyside, Queens, was immediately transported to South Nassau, Kemins said. Knowing firefighter DiBari was a new EMT, Kemins decided to accompany them to the hospital.
As the ambulance made its way onto Oceanside Road, Kemins said he realized they weren't going to make it. Ordering the ambulance to pull over, Kemins, DiBari and Fichtelberg helped deliver a healthy baby girl.
When the baby came out, it cried right away, Kemins said.
After they suctioned the baby, clamped and cut the umbilical cord and covered the baby in a blanket, they proceeded to the hospital, where the mother and daughter were doing just fine.
For Kemins, this is his fourth delivery, the first one being almost 20 years ago. But it was a first for DiBari and Fichtelberg.
I was very nervous, but it was exciting, DiBari said. And Kemins agreed.
It is always an amazing event, no matter how many times you do it.
