By Todd South
Chattanooga Times Free Press
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — The holidays are no holiday for emergency workers.
The 24-hour job of responding to accidents, crimes and calls for directions keep everyone from 911 dispatchers to paramedics and deputies busier than most this time of year, agency directors say.
“If it’s your day to work, it’s your day to work,” said Sequatchie County Sheriff Ronnie Hitchcock.
Sheriff Hitchcock said his 13-deputy staff doesn’t have the luxury of taking time off with a whole county to cover.
But the sheriff and other agency directors said local businesses, churches and charities help out by dropping off food for those working the Christmas and New Year’s Day holidays.
Not only does the number of calls increase for many emergency services over the holidays, the needs change, too, said Danny Lawson, director of Bradley County Emergency Medical Services.
“You’ll see an increase in suicide attempts,” Mr. Lawson said. He said many calls are from lonely people who have reached a breaking point.
On the other side, those with a houseful of relatives or those spending more time with their spouses may have accidents or allow stress to spill over, some said.
“Tensions tend to build when couples are together more than normal. We see more domestic disputes.” said Shane Clark, director of the Rhea County 911 center.
That stress also can affect the emergency workers responding to different situations, directors said. When emotions run high, workers rely on each other.
“Almost any emergency responder within that circle is family,” Mr. Lawson said. “If you make a difference in people’s lives, it’s because you care about them.”
With eight ambulances covering more than 100,000 people in Bradley County, Mr. Lawson pairs new workers with experienced paramedics to help train his staff.
He and other directors said they allow workers to trade holiday shifts to suit their schedules, but few workers can manage extended vacation with the 24-hour nature of the work.
“Every day’s an opportunity to learn,” he said. “I think for the people who do this, that’s part of the draw to it.”