PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Bureau of EMS says it is responding to more babies being delivered before families reach the hospital. Officials said the city averaged about eight pre-hospital births per year before the pandemic, and EMS crews are trained to provide supportive care and assist with deliveries when needed.
That number has since increased to about 12 births per year, WTAE reported. Officials cited several factors for the rise, prompting the bureau to expand its training and upgrade equipment to better handle pre-hospital deliveries.
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Pittsburgh EMS officials said every ambulance carries extensive equipment to keep mothers and newborns safe during pre-hospital deliveries, but a crew chief noted one simple item was missing from the kits: a newborn hat.
Newborns can lose significant body heat through their heads, making hats an important part of post-delivery care. To help address the gap, Crew Chief and Master Clinician Brianna Kramer began crocheting hats to add to the EMS kits.
“I got really quick at crochet this last year. This was an idea that I’ve had for a little bit, and something that I had encountered problems with in the past,” Kramer said. “This year just kind of was the perfect circumstance to come to life.”
She has made 36 hats, two for each ambulance kit, and crews have already started using them. One newborn was delivered on Feb. 15 with help from the Medic 2 team.
“I just thought it was the perfect way. Plus, they get a little souvenir. And so, a reminder that Pittsburgh EMS helped you come into this world,” Kramer said.
