Glasgow Daily Times, Glasgow, KY

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  • Phillip Beville, left, and Philip Bennett, are shown standing next to an ambulance at the Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Medical Services' station on East Main Street. EMTs and paramedics are part of a small group of people who sometimes have to work holidays. Gina Kinslow / Glasgow Daily Times

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January 1, 2013

Emergencies can happen any day

By GINA KINSLOW Glasgow Daily Times

GLASGOW — Chad Hatcher is a new dad, so this year he asked to be off on Christmas Day so he could celebrate with his 2-month-old son.

As an EMT with the Barren-Metcalfe Emergency Medical Service, Hatcher isn’t always off on holidays. Sometimes he has to work.

“I don’t mind it,” he said. “I would love to spend time with my family, but there are things that have to be done.”

EMTs and paramedics are part of a group of people who are often asked to work holidays, whether it’s Christmas Day, the Fourth of July or some other holiday.

“With me being part-time, I take whatever I can get,” he said.

Before his son was born, Hatcher typically volunteered to work holidays because he knew other ambulance service employees wanted to be with their families.

“We usually do our Christmas beforehand, so that frees me up to work if I need to,” he said.

Hatcher also worked on New Year’s Day.

Michelle Ray, a paramedic, worked on New Year’s Eve and Thanksgiving, but was off for Christmas.

Ray doesn’t mind working holidays.

“We just do our holidays at home on a different day most of the time,” she said, adding that most of the time her family is OK with her having to work on a holiday.

Philip Bennett, a paramedic, also doesn’t mind working holidays. “We did Christmas on Christmas Eve at my house,” he said. “My niece asked me this past weekend why we have two Christmases. I said that’s because I have to work. It’s not too bad.”

Phillip Beville, a paramedic, has worked for the ambulance service for about seven years. This year he worked on Christmas Day, because that’s how his schedule fell.

Like Hatcher, he doesn’t mind working holidays and said his family is pretty understanding. Instead of celebrating Christmas on Christmas Day, Beville’s family celebrated on Christmas Eve.

“The younger ones they don’t know the difference,” he said. “They just know it’s time to open presents.”

Beville has four children ranging in age from 2 to 13.

The ambulance service has a full shift of eight employees working on holidays, which means four employees at the East Main station, two at the airport and two at the station in Metcalfe County.

For the full story, read the Jan. 2 print or e-edition of the Glasgow Daily Times.

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