A pregnant firefighter involved in a car crash in Maryland stopped to help a victim stuck under a vehicle, despite going into labor.
Megan Warfield, 30, of Baltimore County, was 9 months pregnant and being driven home after hosting a memorial golf tournament in honor of her late father when she was involved in a multi-car wreck on Oct. 3, the Guardian reported.
While climbing out of her car to help direct traffic, Warfield, who is also a member of the Bowleys Quarters volunteer fire department, noticed a woman trapped in an overturned car.
“I started to climb in there with her, but then I was like, ‘What are you doing? You’re nine months pregnant,’” Warfield, who started experiencing contractions after the crash, told TODAY.
Instead, Warfield held on to the woman and kept her in place to prevent further injuries.
“I don’t know how I did what I did because the cramping was so bad,” Warfield told TODAY of kneeling on the ground. “I must’ve just been running on adrenaline.”
Eventually, first responders – including Warfield’s boyfriend, paramedic Josh Daugherty – arrived on the scene.
“It was also important that I keep her calm,” Warfield said of the moments before help arrived. “It was a pretty traumatic event.”
After handing the woman off to emergency workers, Warfield checked into John Hopkins University hospital, where she learned that the crash had induced labor and knocked the baby into a sideways position.
Less than 24 hours later, on Oct. 4, Warfield and Daugherty welcomed a healthy daughter, Charlotte.
In a statement to TODAY, Fire Chief Joanne Rund commended Warfield’s selfless actions.
“We take pride in our dedicated Fire and EMS personnel. Not only do they give their all when they are on duty, but also when they are off duty,” she wrote. “We congratulate FF Warfield and her family and appreciate her service.”
Bowleys Quarters Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department also praised Warfield on Facebook, describing her as a “true public servant.”
“Ignoring any chance she could be injured, Megan immediately exited her mangled vehicle and began providing care to a person trapped by their overturned car,” the statement read.
“After all patients were evaluated, Megan agreed to an evaluation herself.”
Baltimore County Fire Department also confirmed that six patients were transported to hospitals following the crash. All injuries were non-life threatening, TODAY reported.
Now home on maternity leave with Charlotte and her two older children, Ellie, 6, and Jameson, 5, Warfield is eager to get back into the line of duty.
“I’ve been itching to get back out,” she told TODAY. “It’s what I was born to do.”
