August 26, 2014
Just eight weeks ago Murgon psychologist Arvind Ponnapalli had to take a few deep breaths and turn into an obstetrician … with the help of a Triple 0 emergency medical despatcher.
Arvind’s wife Amanda, 29, didn’t think she was in labour because she had only very mild pain.
“They were going to induce me four days later,” she said.
But baby Diya Grace had other ideas.
Fortunately Arvind, who works at Cherbourg Mental Health, had taken the day off for other reasons so was on hand when his daughter started to make an early appearance.
Also fortunately, some of Arvind’s co-workers, who are nurses, had jokingly given him some basic midwifery lessons in the lead up to Diya’s birth.
Arvind rang Triple 0 and was quickly put through to Emergency Medical Despatcher Joanne Griffiths who is based in Maroochydore.
Joanne was “very helpful”, said Arvind, talking him through the process.
“She was directing me what to do and asked me questions about the baby’s colour and cord.”
At the same time, Joanne had despatched an ambulance crew from Murgon to the address.
Murgon paramedics John Cross and Steve Hatton – who were just three minutes up the road – walked in to find mum and bub on the floor.
“It was a very, very calm scene when we arrived,” John said.
“We offered reassurance and support for the mum, checked the baby and then put them both in the ambulance to take them to Kingaroy Hospital.
“Along the road, at Tingoora, we stopped the ambulance to clamp the cord. Dad cut it.”
Amanda and Diya were discharged the next morning after a very easy, if unusual birth.
Arvind said it was the first time he had called Triple 0 and he was really pleased how smoothly it all went.
John said Emergency Medical Despatchers received special training and also had checklists on hand to work through during emergencies.
