Responders on duty for Christmas Day emergencies
JACKSON, Tenn. — Christmas is not a day off for everyone, and emergency responders are on duty even on the usually quiet holiday. If you call 911, a dispatcher will be on the other end of the line 365 days a year, including Christmas Day. “We all understand it’s part of the job,” dispatcher Clint Hand told WBBJ Friday. “We work seven days a week, and that’s what we are here for.” Hand has been a dispatcher for 28 years, with 13 of those years spent with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department. He says on a typical Christmas Day they see around 30 to 50 calls during a shift versus a regular day of more than 75 calls. “I like the fact we are here to help people, and you know, if we are able to help someone in some small way, it makes us look good,” Hand said. Hand is just one of several dispatchers responsible for sending fire, police and ambulance services to places in need of help. He says the center will see calls ranging from medical problems to family feuds and thoughts of suicide. “If you need us, we are here,” Hand said. “We want you to be safe and enjoy your time with family and loved ones.”
