Massachusetts

Police Help Save Unresponsive Newborn Baby in Saugus

Police in Saugus, Massachusetts helped save the life of an unresponsive baby born in his parents' minivan on the side of the road early Monday morning.

Saugus police said dispatchers received a 911 call around 1:35 a.m. from a frantic man who told them that he was driving to the hospital and his wife was giving birth in their minivan.

The man told the dispatcher they were driving on Essex Street near the Square One Mall and he could see the baby's head. The dispatcher told the man to pull over and said he was sending an ambulance and police officers to his location.

The dispatcher stayed on the phone, and the baby was delivered in the back of the minivan and was unresponsive.

The baby's umbilical cord had wrapped around his neck, keeping him from breathing.

The dispatcher gave the man instructions on how to remove the umbilical cord and administer CPR. When the man began giving CPR to his baby, the boy started breathing and crying.

A short time later, a police officer was able to locate the vehicle and provided care and comfort to the family until paramedics from Armstrong Ambulance Service arrived.

The family was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, where mother and baby are reportedly doing fine.

"I want to commend our staff for their actions that assuredly helped to save this baby's life and provided a calming presence for the family in a very hectic and scary situation," interim Police Chief Ronald Giorgetti said. "We train for situations like these, but it is rare to have a call like this and I am really thrilled to see it had a happy ending."

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