The people keeping us safe on Christmas Day - and how they do it

Many of us are travelling to visit family and friends to celebrate the festive season. But for those who work to keep us safe and well, it’s a time to put duty first

Mon, 25 Dec, 2023 - 13:27

Sharon Ní Chonchúir

Thousands of us will crisscross the globe this weekend, catching planes, trains, and automobiles to make it home to our families for Christmas.

As we sit down to dinner on December 25 and nod off on the sofa afterwards, spare a thought for medics, first responders, and volunteers who will be on our roads, ensuring we stay safe and well over Christmas.

Here, we speak to five people who will be on duty over Christmas.

FIRE OFFICER

Gerry Myers, Third Officer, Green Watch, Cork City Fire Brigade. Pic: Larry Cummins

Gerry Myers is the third officer at Cork City Fire Brigade in Anglesea Street. This is his 50th and final year in the job and he’s well used to working at Christmas.

“I’ve spent at least 20 Christmas Days at work,” he says. “I’m glad that Christmas is on a Monday this year as when it falls on a weekday, we work the usual 9am to 6pm shift. But when it falls on a weekend, we work a 24-hour shift. That’s a long time to be away from family at Christmas.”

He used to find it hard when his children were young. “We had no video calls in those days, and I definitely missed out on things like playing with Santa’s toys when they were small,” he says.

However, the camaraderie in the station helped to take his mind off home. “We make our own festivities on Christmas Day, and we have plenty of visitors,” says Myers.

“The Lady Mayoress visits at midday. Our chief executive calls in at 1pm and members of the public drop by with cakes and biscuits. People are very kind to us.”

Myers also recognises that his sacrifice is necessary. “Christmas can be busy for the fire brigade,” he says. “Lights catch fire. Candles are left near curtains. People drink more and there are collisions on the roads. Somebody has to work to help deal with these incidents.”

With this in mind, he encourages us all to prioritise safety while we celebrate this Christmas.

“Don’t drink and drive,” he says. “I’ve seen too many accidents over the years. And switch things like lights and decorations off before you go to bed. That way, we’ll have a quiet Christmas here in the fire station and you and your family will stay happy and safe at home.”

PARAMEDIC

Alexandra Drafilova is a paramedic in Wexford. She won’t spend Christmas Day with her partner and their 19-month-old child this year as she is rostered to work.

“I’ve worked most Christmas Days since I started as a paramedic six years ago,” she says.

In many ways, it’s no different to any other day. “You arrive at work and see what the day has in store for you,” says Drafilova. “Injury and illness don’t take time off for the holidays.”

Because her job is unpredictable, she has sad and happy associations with working over Christmas. “The calls that stay with me the most are linked to depression and loneliness,” she says.

“December is a hard month for lots of people and there comes a point where some can’t manage anymore. If we’re lucky, they will contact us in their hour of need, but unfortunately, that’s not always the case. This is why I always urge people to look after each other at Christmas.”

Travelling through the countryside at night-time, with the winter blackness punctuated by sparkling festive lights, lightens her heart. “The nights make it magical,” she says. “Seeing people’s decorations can be such a welcome uplift on the harder days.”

Drafilova wishes she was driving home for Christmas rather than spending it out on the road. “I’d love to spend the day with my family, eating good food and tripping over wrapping paper,” she says.

“However, I’m also grateful to have a job I love and an excuse not to cook. And I hope to enjoy some of the festivities at my in-laws after work.”

She encourages all of us to mind ourselves this Christmas. “If you’re not feeling well, don’t try to sleep it off, call an ambulance,” she says.

“Nobody wants to be in hospital at Christmas, but sometimes it’s the better alternative.”

Dr Gary Stack from The Park Medical Practice, Killarney who will be 'Doctor On Duty' over the Christmas period in Killarney. Photo: Don MacMonagle

GENERAL PRACTITIONER

Dr Gary Stack is a GP in Killarney and the medical director of Southdoc. Over the years, he has often worked at Christmas.

“When I started in 1988, I was on call 24/7, 365 days a year,” he says. “I did that for seven years. It was exhausting and it took a toll on my family life.”

It was also unsustainable. Stack eventually formed a practice with other GPs to share the burden and in 2001, he was involved in setting up Southdoc, a system that allows the GPs in Cork and Kerry to share the out-of-hours calls equally between them.

“Throughout the year, there are usually two GPs rostered on at any one time,” says Stack. “But at Christmas, with most other medical services closed, the demand for GPs goes up, so we roster on a third GP. I’ll be playing my part in meeting that demand.”

What he enjoys about working at this time of year is meeting with people who are home for the holidays. “Often, I see people I might not have seen for years,” he says. “We might not be meeting in the best of circumstances, but it’s still nice to connect.”

There can be sad moments too. “I’ve been at road traffic accidents and incidents on the McGillycuddy Reeks where people have died, which is always hard to deal with,” he says.

He has also been called to the bedsides of people who are dying at home. “I’ve always seen it as a privilege to help in that situation and I feel that particularly powerfully at Christmas.”

He says we need to “slow down” to keep us safe over the holidays.

“People put themselves under unnecessary pressure at Christmas and that can cause accidents. And remember that some people can struggle with mental health at Christmas. So look out for your neighbours. Pay them a visit and include them in the celebrations.”

Mick Hyland from Newbridge who volunteers as a driver for the Irish Cancer Society. Photograph Moya Nolan

VOLUNTEER DRIVER

Michael Hyland from Newbridge in Co Kildare is one of 1,045 people who give their time to the Irish Cancer Society volunteer driver service.

This service provides free transportation to patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment nationwide.

“Now that I’ve retired, I’ve got time on my hands, so I do two drives every week,” says the 73-year-old. “I bring people to their hospital appointments, wait for them to be finished and then bring them back home.”

Hyland takes satisfaction from being able to give back to others. “My wife and I are cancer survivors,” he says.

“So, I realise what these people are going through. They are too sick to drive themselves and too sick to take public transport. They need our service.”

He also enjoys the experience itself. “Getting to help people, hearing their stories, knowing that someone appreciates what I have to give at 73 years of age — all of that is my reward,” he says.

He’s even looking forward to working over Christmas. “I see it as my way of giving someone a Christmas present without having to spend a penny,” he says.

“This is something that I’ll keep doing at Christmastime and throughout the year for as long as my car and I can keep going.”

COMMUNITY GARDA

Peter O’Riordan is a community garda at Bridewell Garda Station in Cork. He’s been working as a garda for 18 years, and this Christmas he’s rostered to work from Christmas Day to December 28.

“I’ve worked many Christmases over the years, and I always enjoy the atmosphere in the city centre,” he says.

“There’s a great buzz around town with families visiting Santa, going to the panto and getting together for parties. You always bump into people you know.”

The mood at the station is festive too. “We all bring in treats from home and those who live nearby might drop in with a bit of turkey or some of the Christmas pudding,” he says.

“We celebrate the day as best we can with each other and sometimes members of the public call by with mince pies or thank you cards, which is always nice.”

O’Riordan thinks there are two big drawbacks to working over Christmas.

“There’s the time you don’t spend with family and friends and there are the accidents and incidents you have to attend. On my first Christmas as a garda, I remember having to move the body of an elderly man who had died at home. That’s the grim side of things.”

Such incidents are balanced by moments of cheer. “I get to see the great work done by charities and volunteers who give their time to looking after people at Christmas,” says O’Riordan.

“The likes of people who give Christmas dinner to the homeless — that’s the real festive spirit right there.”

He would like us all to combine merriment with caution this year, especially if we’re planning to drive. “People can be distracted and under pressure at Christmas,” he says.

“If you’re driving with a car full of children playing with noisy toys in the backseat, please keep your focus on the road. Only indulge in alcohol when you’re not driving.

“And if you’re coming into the city centre to socialise, plan your journey home so you’re not left stranded at the end of the night. That way, we should all have a happy and safe Christmas.”

What is it like to work on Christmas Day? Hear from three people clocking in on December 25

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