About 20 Border Patrol Agents learned how to deliver babies at Scripps hospital in La Jolla today. It's part of a larger initiative to expand border agents' emergency medical training. KPBS Reporter Amy Isackson has the story.
Agents practiced their technique on plastic babies as the midwife shouted out directions. The trainer also provided tips for agents should they have to deliver a baby in the backcountry, like using plastic bags as gloves or newspapers as blankets.
Agent Jason Feldman has patrolled San Diego's East County for the last nine years. He says he come across pregnant woman occassionaly.
Feldman: "But I've never seen a pregnancy happening and I think it's quite rare. Most women aren't crossing during that time in the area where I work. It's extremely difficult. It's walking for hours upon days. Nobody wants to do that.
The Border Patrol does not keep records on childbirth. A Border Patrol spokesman says his agency plans to train more agents as emergency responders. But he does not know how many, nor how much funding has been set aside. Amy Isackson, KPBS News.
