BAKERSFIELD, Calif., At approximately 6:30 p.m. on September 18, 2023, the Kern County Emergency Communications Center (ECC) received a 9-1-1 call requesting an emergency medical response for maternity. Dispatchers are well-trained emergency workers who are passionate to assist callers with what is often a chaotic situation. The dispatcher who took this 9-1-1 call remained calm, followed protocols, asked the appropriate questions, and quickly understood that this maternity call was an imminent birth situation. The dispatcher, who is in her first year of service, relied on her training and communicated medical intervention techniques to enable the patient to stay calm and successfully navigate the challenges of this childbirth. The patient had no assistance except for the reassuring words being given over the phone. The dispatcher maintained the line of communication, continuing necessary support for what was now two patients, until Kern County firefighters arrived at the scene.
