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Each month, Lehigh Valley Health Network honors colleagues who go “above and beyond” in the course of their work with Service Star awards. Recently, two West End Community Ambulance colleagues, ambulance provider for Lehigh Valley Hospital–Pocono, were honored for their incredible efforts to help ensure a woman who was in labor made it to LVH–Pocono for her baby’s delivery.
During a massive winter storm, a 911 call dispatched West End Community Ambulance paramedic Scott Brandt and emergency medical technician Patricia Copp to pick up a pregnant woman who was in labor. Arriving on the scene, the crew placed the patient onto a stretcher, settled her in the ambulance and then headed for LVH–Pocono.
Gridlocked traffic
This storm had dumped a foot of snow on roadways across the region. The only route available – Interstate 380 to Interstate 80 – was engulfed in gridlock caused by stranded motorists. The patient was worried about being trapped in the ambulance and giving birth en route to the hospital. Together, Brandt and Copp kept the mother-to-be calm, warm and comfortable while they worked with the emergency department team via radio to delay the baby’s delivery.
Heroic effort
To make their way through the traffic jam, Brandt got out of the ambulance every 30 feet to help stranded drivers move their cars out of the way, clearing a path through the gridlocked highway.
Brandt assisted in moving more than 10 vehicles in zero visibility and gusting winds. On a clear day, this trip takes around 40 minutes. On that particular day, the drive to LVH–Pocono lasted five hours. A few hours after arriving at the hospital, the patient delivered a healthy baby boy.
We’re proud of the extraordinary calm and determination these colleagues dis-played during an incredibly challenging situation. We truly thank this team for its commitment to patient care.