Two Lincoln County emergency 911 dispatchers received recognition June 3 for changing the lives of two familes. Craig Balsdon of Boothbay Harbor provided verbal assistance to a couple who gave birth to their son in a vehicle. Richard Hasch of Southport provided a bystander instruction by phone to perform cardiopulmonary rescitation.

A recognition ceremony was held during the county commissioners' bi-monthly meeting. Communications Director Tara Doe presented Balsdon with a certificate, pin and a stork to commemorate his work. Hasch received a pin, certificate and a stuffed toy Phoenix. Maine Emergency Management Services provides the gifts for dispatchers who provide outstanding service.

"This reminds us, we are changing lives each and every day," Doe said.   

Balsdon's life-changing call occurred at 3:10 a.m. Feb. 27. He recalled the couple was driving to the hospital when he received the call. "I had just asked for their location, phone number and asked them to pull over. I was about to provide birth instruction when the baby came out," he said. He later instructed the birth mother to keep her newborn warm.

Hasch's call occurred Feb. 19, 2024. He provided CPR instructions by phone to someone who called 911 about a person needing assistance. Doe told commissioners Maine EMS only awards a "Phoenix" after the patient leaves the hospital on their own. "It's usually well after the call, and we don't know how it turned out for many months after," she said. 

 Maine EMS recognizes a licensed clinician or dispatcher who participates in a successful resusciation during an out-of-hosptial cardiac arrest.