INUVIK - An eight-year-old girl had a simple message for the police officer who helped deliver her baby sister Nov. 9.

"Thank you," said the well-spoken child, who added she loves her new sister and can't wait to teach her to play hockey.

Const. Julie Snelgrove: helped a newborn take her first breath last month while responding to an emergency call. - photo courtesy of Julie Snelgrove

Const. Julie Snelgrove said it was an experience "she'll never forget" because it illustrates why she joined the RCMP four years ago.

"This is why I became a police officer so I can help people like that," said Snelgrove. "It was just a wonderful experience, to be honest."

Snelgrove, along with fellow constables Louis-Phillipe Goulet and Jessica Packman, responded to the emergency call in Inuvik last month where the only information they had to go by was a baby not breathing.

When the three officers arrived, they were directed by a family member to the bathroom where a woman was giving birth. By that time the baby's head and its pale face was exposed.

Snelgrove took action immediately.

"You just kick into training mode," she said.

She said luckily the mother was calm and co-operative. The woman moved to a slightly different position and the baby slid out easily, said Snelgrove.

Snelgrove cleared out the baby girl's mouth, but she wasn't yet breathing. Snelgrove tried again and all was quiet. Suddenly, the newborn gasped for air and started crying briefly. As she continued to breathe on her own, Snelgrove wrapped her in towels and kept her close to her mother.

When the ambulance arrived, the constable helped the paramedic cut the umbilical cord.

A few weeks later Snelgrove got a visit from mom and baby.

Const. Packman called her colleague a kind and caring person and said she was proud of the way she handled the emergency.

Snelgrove, who's a member of the RCMP relief unit that services the surrounding Delta communities, called the experience awe-inspiring. It was a much happier experience than a case she dealt with in Sachs Harbour a year and a half ago, where a baby fell victim to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Snelgrove said she'll never forget the miracle that reaffirmed her choice of career.

"I'll always wonder what this little girl is doing in her life," she said.