In late July, firefighters at Cape Town's Ottery Fire Station successfully delivered a baby boy to an expectant mother who arrived in labour. This incident highlights the station's role as a vital community hub for diverse emergencies beyond firefighting. Crew members, trained in first aid and trauma care, routinely handle heart issues, injuries, and childbirth for underserved residents.
Cape Town fire stations, including Ottery, often serve as primary emergency care points for local communities. Residents frequently seek help there for injuries and ailments, given the 24/7 first aid post availability. Firefighters are equipped to manage a wide range of incidents, from heart problems and traumatic wounds to childbirth.
On a morning in late July this year, around 5am, an expectant mother arrived at the Ottery station gate in active labour. The seven-person crew, led by experienced Platoon Commander Amesha Bachan, rushed her to the trauma room and delivered a healthy baby boy. Bachan, who joined the service in 2008 and has 17 years of experience, noted this was her 40th such delivery. 'It's a regular occurrence at any fire station,' she said, adding that stations like Hout Bay, Milnerton, and Gugulethu see high volumes of pregnancies.
Senior firefighter Ivor Parenzee, with 21 years in the service, has assisted in seven births. 'All of us sitting here are trained to the extent where we can deal with a variety of incidents,' he said. 'With everybody's assistance on the shift, we managed it very well. We could bring a new boy into this world.' Junior firefighter Steve Africa, on his first delivery after 10 years in the role, described the moment as 'joyful' despite its intensity.
The crew emphasized their broad training, requiring 20 hours monthly on everything from fire drills to medical responses. They serve less privileged community members with limited healthcare access, such as those restricted to one pregnancy scan at government hospitals. Resources are basic in this pre-hospital setting, and crews call ambulances for further transport.
Challenges include risks from gang-related incidents and occasional hostility during fire responses. Bachan, assaulted twice in the past year, stressed the team's resilience and support systems, including debriefings and counselling. 'Firefighters are ordinary people doing extraordinary things,' she quoted a late colleague, underscoring their human side amid the 'roller coaster' of daily unknowns.