A Saline County Telecommunicator received an award for her actions during a 9-1-1 call in July 2016. Tammy Norris, a telecommunicator at the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, received the Illinois Sheriff’s Association Telecommunicator of the Year Award, Monday evening in Peoria.
On July 2, 2016 at approximately 1:57 a.m. Saline County Central Dispatch received a 9-1-1 call from Aaron Marks, who stated his wife was in labor and they didn’t think that they were going to make it to the hospital in Carbondale. Mr. Marks was correct and he pulled into the Harco Baptist Church parking lot and continued his call with 9-1-1.
“Telecommunicator Norris, answered the call that night, and was able to assist and instruct Mr. Marks on the delivery of his soon to be born daughter. In addition, to giving directions to Aaron and his wife Hayley, Norris dispatched an ambulance to their location. But before the ambulance arrived Norris had stepped, Mr. Marks through such things as: how to remove the umbilical cord from around the baby’s neck and how to clean the baby up and position the baby with the mother all before the ambulance arrived,” said Sheriff Keith Brown.
Today, at a press conference at the Saline County Sheriff’s Office, Sheriff Brown presented the ISA Award and Telecommunicator Norris also received a stork pin from Saline County E-911. “This is only the second baby that has been delivered over the phone at Saline County Central Dispatch,” said Lt. Tracy L. Felty, Saline County E-911 Director . “The last was in February 1997, when a young lady was attempting to make it to an Evansville, Indiana hospital, for the baby’s delivery and wasn’t able to make it.
The baby was delivered at the expectant mother, mother’s (new grandmother) house near New Haven, when they called 9-1-1 and a Saline County telecommunciator assisted,” continued Felty. Norris, was also able to meet up with Hayley and baby Noah and her older brother Oliver at today’s press conference.
