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South Jordan Fire EMTs properly introduced to infant they helped deliver on I-15

Posted at 7:15 PM, Oct 18, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-18 21:15:33-04

SOUTH JORDAN, Utah – It is not often EMTs get to reunite with the people they assist.

However, on Tuesday, medics with South Jordan Fire were properly introduced to the infant they helped deliver during gridlock traffic on Interstate 15 earlier this month.

“We interact with people kind of at their dire moments and so to be involved with the baby and be able to see the baby come back, it’s real fulfilling,” said Andrew James, first responder with South Jordan Fire.

On Oct. 6, Adina Reitz-Rothuag and her husband were headed to the hospital because she was in labor. However, while the couple was traveling on I-15, a trailer came loose from a pickup truck also traveling on the highway and hit a semi tanker carrying chemicals, which overturned.

The accident halted traffic for hours.

As Reitz-Rothuag and her husband sat in traffic they could see their exit but the emergency lanes were blocked.

There was nothing they could do but call 911. Luckily for Reitz-Rothuag, South Jordan Fire first responders were also stuck nearby and were able to quickly get to her.

“It was a little bit of a whirlwind when they first showed up and very, very quickly got me out of the car and into the ambulance and just that fast baby was out and born,” Reitz-Rothuag said.

On Tuesday, Reitz-Rothuag and her family stopped by the fire station to introduce the first responders to her baby girl.

“I think this is probably the most rewarding part of our job,” said Josh Brown, the medic who helped deliver the baby.

While mom let the guys take turns holding her newborn, the medics gave her a bundle of gifts – a box of diapers and a signed picture of the crew.

“The one thing that we know you’re going to use plenty of,” Brown said of the diapers.

Reitz-Rothuag also had the medics sign the baby’s birth certificate.

“We really appreciate that they came and for all you guys do and for all that you put on the line every single day,” Reitz-Rothuag said to the EMTs.

Reitz-Rothuag decided to name her daughter Nessa.

"It’s a Celtic name, which means fierce and ambitious.  And with the way this little girl stormed her way into the world on her own terms, it just seemed very very fitting,” she said.

Reitz-Rothuag says she can’t wait to tell her little girl about the heroes that helped Nessa make her fierce entrance into the world.