Episode 212
EO: 212 EMS Skills for Babies with Mary Lee Lemley
Contact Neonatal Outreach for Middle Tennessee
Key Takeaways
Tennessee has 55 out of 95 counties without OB services, making EMS preparedness for unexpected deliveries critical for saving newborn lives
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) training for EMS has increased from less than 3% to almost 31% statewide through dedicated funding and outreach efforts
Newborn resuscitation differs fundamentally from adult resuscitation, requiring ventilation first rather than compressions because babies have never breathed before
Proper equipment including small masks, uncuffed tubes, and appropriate supplies must be available on ambulances for effective neonatal care
Multiple EMS schools now require NRP certification before graduation, ensuring future EMS professionals are prepared to handle neonatal emergencies
Regular simulation drills involving multiple disciplines (dispatch, EMS, ED, OB, pediatrics) are essential for maintaining skills and identifying system gaps
The first few minutes of a baby's life are irreplaceable, making immediate, proper resuscitation techniques critical for positive outcomes
Families should know their local EMS response times and which nearby hospitals offer OB services for emergency planning
Quotable Moments
"I think the most important thing that I have learned out of all of those travels is the most important thing in these babies' lives are the first responders, whoever is right there at delivery because we cannot give that time back to those babies."
"I said, but can we put a price tag on a baby's life?"
"So we have taken the numbers that have NRP from less than 3% in the state to almost 31%. So we're getting there one class at a time."
"if you don't use it, you lose it."
"And the babies are coming in in so much better shape than what they were before we started doing education."
"I said there's really, there's only two, two facts about babies. One, they'll always be babies conceived. And two, no matter how good you are at your job, not all babies survive. But we owe it to them to do the best job we possibly can because that's why we're here."
"No mother should have to bury a child."
"I said, if you are not a little bit afraid, you scare me to death."
"Time is important. We have a, a county on the northern border and they got a call from the county."
"I'm hoping it won't be long until we have all the equipment on these trucks that we need"
Show Notes by Barevalue.
No content or comments made in any TIPQC Healthy Mom Healthy Baby Podcast is intended to be comprehensive or medical advice. Neither healthcare providers nor patients should rely on TIPQC’s Podcasts in determining the best practices for any particular patient. Additionally, standards and practices in medicine change as new information and data become available and the individual medical professional should consult a variety of sources in making clinical decisions for individual patients. TIPQC undertakes no duty to update or revise any particular Podcast. It is the responsibility of the treating physician or health care professional, relying on independent experience and knowledge of the patient, to determine appropriate treatment.
