Firefighters help woman in labor get to hospital

A couple was on its way to Cape Girardeau -- they even had a doctor's appointment at 11 a.m. at Saint Francis Medical Center -- when they needed to stop at the Interstate 55 rest area just outside of Jackson.

Then the woman went into labor.

The Fruitland Fire Department and Cape Girardeau County Ambulance Service responded to the call about 8 a.m. Tuesday. The woman was going into labor, and her water broke with emergency personnel on scene, Fruitland Fire Department Lt. Ray Kerns said.

Responders decided they had enough time to take the mother to Saint Francis.

"We get calls from people in labor," Kerns said. "Usually the water hasn't broken yet."

Kerns said the pregnancy was full term, and the mother and the baby were OK after the delivery, as far as he knew.

Saint Francis public information coordinator Emily Blattel could not release any information about the birth.

"We have people come in just about ready to deliver every day," Blattel said.

bkleine@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3644

Pertinent address:

Southbound Fruitland rest area, Interstate 55, milemarker 110