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Lincoln County honors dispatchers after roadside birth and successful cardiac resuscitation
Summary
The communications center recognized two dispatchers: Craig Volsden for guiding a caller through a roadside birth and Richard Hash for instructions that contributed to a surviving hospital discharge after cardiac arrest.
Lincoln County Commissioners and staff presented awards June 3 to two communications-center dispatchers for lifesaving work.
Craig Volsden received a certificate and pin after using emergency medical dispatch protocols to guide a caller through the delivery of a baby on Feb. 27, 2025. Volsden told commissioners he instructed the family to pull over and follow step-by-step directions; the baby was born roadside and the family remained calm during the call, staff said. Volsden’s certificate recognized both the successful delivery and post-delivery instructions to keep mother and infant safe while emergency responders responded.
Richard Hash received the Phoenix Award from Maine EMS after providing telephone instructions that led a bystander to perform CPR on Feb. 19, 2024. Maine EMS, which tracks patient outcomes for the award, notified the county that the patient left the hospital and met the criteria for the honor. County staff explained the Phoenix Award is reserved for cases in which a patient survives to hospital discharge following telecommunicator-assisted CPR instructions.
Commissioners praised both dispatchers for calm, clear instruction that contributed to positive outcomes. County staff said the awards highlight the communications center’s role in public safety and the value of EMD (emergency medical dispatch) protocols.
