A veteran Iowa dispatcher guided a couple through a roadside birth on Highway 18 before crews arrived. She was later awarded a Stork Pin, as the mother thanked her for keeping the family calm.
A 911 dispatcher from Iowa, US helped a woman deliver her baby along a highway. (Photo: Facebook)
New Delhi, UPDATED: Jun 1, 2026 13:52 IST
A 911 dispatcher in Iowa, US, has been honoured after helping a woman give birth on the side of Highway 18 near Dickens, calmly guiding the family through the emergency over the phone.
Andrea Ring, a dispatcher with 26 years of experience and a mother of five, is being recognised for her calm actions during a childbirth emergency that unfolded on March 5 along Highway 18 near Dickens, Iowa.
According to local reports, Ring was just 23 minutes into her shift when she received a frantic call from a man whose girlfriend had gone into labour while they were travelling. It quickly became clear that the couple would not make it to the hospital in time.
As the situation intensified, Ring stayed on the line, calmly talking the family through the delivery while emergency responders rushed to the scene.
By the time crews arrived, the baby had already been born safely on the side of the highway.
In a Facebook post announcing her recognition, local authorities and emergency responders surprised Ring with a “Stork Pin” — an honour traditionally awarded in emergency medical services to those who assist during childbirth em
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