ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — An Albuquerque Fire Rescue dispatcher is being recognized after helping guide a caller through the delivery of a baby before emergency crews arrived on scene.
According to Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Alarm Room Dispatcher and Driver Mike Vanderwilt recently received a 911 call involving a woman in active labor. As emergency responders were dispatched, Vanderwilt remained on the phone, providing instructions to the caller and helping guide the childbirth process.
Officials said a healthy baby girl was delivered before first responders arrived. Vanderwilt continued providing post-delivery instructions and support to help ensure both mother and child remained stable until emergency medical personnel reached the scene.
Mother and daughter were later transported safely to a hospital by AFR Rescue 9.
The incident marks Vanderwilt’s second childbirth assist during his dispatch career and earned him his first AFR Stork Pin, an award recognizing dispatchers and emergency personnel involved in childbirth-related calls. He was also presented with a Challenge Coin by Alarm Room supervisors and fellow dispatchers in recognition of his work.
A member of AFR’s 71st Cadet Class and a 20-year veteran of Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Vanderwilt has spent the last decade serving in the department’s Alarm Room. Colleagues describe him as a calm, compassionate presence who helps callers navigate emergencies during some of the most stressful moments of their lives.
AFR officials said the incident highlights the critical role dispatchers play in emergency response, often providing lifesaving assistance before crews arrive on scene.
