Seven emergency workers honored for baby deliveries, fire rescue

 

Four emergency medical workers in Anderson County were honored Tuesday for helping with baby deliveries, and three rescuers were recognized for their courage in pulling a woman from a burning home in November.

Those who helped deliver the babies received a Stork pin, said Nathan Sweet, director of Anderson County Emergency Medical Services. The four were honored during a Tuesday meeting of the Anderson County Commission. They are Critical Care Paramedic or CCEMTP Billy Sharp, Paramedic Student Chris Bice, AEMT Stephanie Fox, and Paramedic Gage Whitman.

They helped with baby deliveries in October, November, and December.

“Each delivery occurred prior to arrival at the hospital,” Sweet said.

“This is a rare and unique call to be on,” Sweet said. “Many in our profession will go their entire career without ever assisting in the delivery of a baby. There are so many complications to be ready for. In a hospital, you have lots of room, equipment and staff, whereas in an ambulance, it is usually either one person or maybe two in a small area with minimal equipment.

“There were no complications in these deliveries, and both baby and mother did well.”

The three rescuers honored for pulling a woman from a burning home in the Orchard Knob subdivision in November were Anderson County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Wiley Maloney, Reserve Deputy Gene Rose, and Captain Zach Pressnell of the Marlow Volunteer Fire Department. They were honored with Valor presentations, Sweet said.

He said the three men exposed themselves to great harm.

The 65-year-old woman, Martha Babb Bailey, was burned and seriously injured after she went into the burning home to try to save pets inside. She later died at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

Anderson County Sheriff Paul White said Maloney and Rose were the first to arrive, and they ran into the house. With Pressnell’s help, they pulled Bailey from the house. At that point, she was still conscious but laying on the floor a few feet from the front door.

Pressnell said fire was rolling out of the front door when he arrived, burning the eaves.

“Being first on scene can come with some significant responsibilities,” Sweet said. “The decisions made can determine what happens next. These heroes made a decision to place themselves in great harm to help another. We believe it is a testament of their true character and desire to help others. We are honored to work alongside these gentleman!”