Frontline workers with Red Deer Emergency Services continue to keep the community safe over the holidays.
A number of firefighters and EMS staff worked through Christmas and Boxing Day, and those men and women deserve praise, said Curtis Schaefer, RDES assistant deputy chief.
“It’s a time of year we all think about spending time with family and friends at home and not necessarily about working,” Schaefer told The Advocate on Christmas morning.
“For the men and women working today on the frontlines, it’s very much appreciated that they’re here to protect the citizens of Red Deer and provide that peace of mind that if something were to happen today, they’re here and ready to respond.”
Schaefer said there’s typically a mix of frontline workers who step up and take shifts during the holidays.
“There are some more senior workers, whose kids who have moved away from home and are willing to work. Then there are some more junior members who don’t have kids yet or have young kids,” said Schaefer.
Those working on Christmas Day and Boxing Day will be able to bond with each other, Schaefer added.
“If you can’t be with your family, we say Red Deer Emergency Services is your second family,” he said.
“We’ll be preparing something of a Christmas lunch today for them to share together. They’ll be able to bond together and share some Christmas cheer in between calls.”
RDES is prepared to answer any kind of call, from someone slipping on ice to a house fire, over the holiday season, Schaefer said.
“We always hope for Christmas Day to be the quietest day of the year because that means no families are having to deal with anything stressful,” he said.
The City of Red Deer 911 Dispatch Centre said it gets “many calls” for structure fires that start from cooking.
“Don’t leave your cooking or baking unattended. We want you to be able to celebrate Christmas with a visit from Santa, not the fire department. If something does end up on fire call us at 911 right away,” the centre said in a tweet this past Thursday.
The centre offers the following fire safety advice:
- Don’t put out a grease fire with water;
- Keep the oven door closed if there is a fire inside of it;
- Don’t swat at a fire with a towel or apron.
The centre also advises drivers to avoid getting behind the wheel if they don’t need to drive when the weather is bad.
“With winter conditions here, the Red Deer 911 Dispatch Centre always sees an influx of motor vehicle collisions,” the centre tweeted on Christmas Eve.
“If you have to drive, drive according to the conditions. If you get into an accident and there are injuries or fluids leaking, call 911 and we will send out the fire department to help you.”
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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