Newborn Medical Calls During Cold Snap Show Teamwork and the Importance of Warmth

A message for moms….

ROBERTSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE (Smokey Barn News) – It was a tense moment on the radio Tuesday as emergency responders across Robertson County worked against time, cold, and distance. From our newsroom, we could hear the urgency in the voices of first responders—an hours‑old baby reportedly struggling to breathe, a second newborn delivered at home amid treacherous icy conditions. For a time, it was touch‑and‑go. Now, Robertson County EMS Director Brent Dyer has some very important advice for moms as we make our way through this winter cold blast, especially if you are without power.

According to Dyer, crews from EMS and the Cross Plains Fire Department responded earlier to a call involving a 3‑day‑old baby who was experiencing trouble breathing. Later, responders were dispatched to a home for a home-delivery that initially sounded dire.

Despite ice-covered roads, first responders reached the scene quickly. While units were en route, 911 telecommunicators remained in constant communication with the family, relaying instructions from EMS. The newly delivered baby was initially unresponsive, described as listless and possibly not breathing, but through coordinated guidance over the phone, parents were instructed on immediate newborn care, including stimulation and skin-to-skin contact, to help restore breathing and warmth until responders arrived. It was a tense few minutes.

Director Dyer noted that even mild hypothermia in newborns can cause apnea, or temporary cessation of breathing. In the bitter cold, and especially for families still without power, this can become a hidden danger. “Homes with these small babies must provide needed warmth to prevent this risk,” Dyer emphasized.

He also urged caregivers to be cautious about co‑sleeping—falling asleep while holding or lying next to a baby can unintentionally block a newborn’s airway.

While full updates on the babies’ conditions are not yet available, Dyer confirmed both mother and child were doing well at last report.

Dyer extended praise to the 911 telecommunicator, who he said “did a wonderful job relaying our instructions and gathering information” that helped rescuers reach the scene quickly.

County officials are reminding residents that shelters remain open and transportation can be arranged for anyone affected by power outages or extreme cold.

This incident stands as a reminder of how vulnerable newborns are to cold stress—and how critical fast response, teamwork, and community awareness can be when seconds matter.

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