A Lake County emergency dispatcher was recently honored by Orlando Health for her quick thinking and communication skills that helped a woman deliver a baby.
Tina Mumley, an Emergency Dispatch Supervisor who has served Lake County since 2008, received the health system’s first-ever “Stork Award.”
The expectant mother called 911 in active labor while her husband drove to the hospital. It was clear to Mumley they weren’t going to make it to the hospital before delivery, so she talked the mom through the birthing process over the phone.
Mumley guided the mother through delivery, including how to pinch the cord. The newborn was safely in their mother’s arms when the family arrived at the emergency room. Both mother and baby are doing well.
“Having served South Lake County and the surrounding communities for the last 75 years, Orlando Health South Lake Hospital, its physicians, nurses, and team members understand firsthand how important it is to respond quickly and calmly during a health emergency,” said Kim Hogan, Orlando Health South Lake Hospital patient care administrator. “We’re proud to recognize Ms. Mumley for demonstrating a remarkable level of guidance and support when it mattered most.
Mumley is a well-respected team member and a staple in her office.
“Tina is a natural leader,” Emergency Dispatch Manager Kimberly Stephens said. “She treats everyone with respect and places the needs of her staff above her own. She consistently demonstrates high standards of ethics and fairness and has always created a culture of trust and caring among her peers.”
Emergency Dispatchers are often the first touch point in the county’s emergency response system. They help callers navigate potentially life-threatening emergencies with a calm and professional demeanor. Still, instructing a laboring mother on how to deliver their baby over the phone and while in a moving vehicle is an incredible accomplishment.
In 2021, Lake Emergency Dispatch answered approximately 131,097 incoming calls and 2,210,606 radio transmissions. The communications center is responsible for managing over 375 public safety resources, spanning 58,000 emergency and non-emergency EMS and Fire incidents annually. Dispatchers coordinate with local law enforcement, hospitals, air support agencies, counties, and the State Watch Office.
