Melton Community First Responder Tim Frisby will be volunteering to save lives in the East Midlands on both Christmas Day and New Year’s Day – something he’s done for over 15 years.
Tim, who will be on call 24 hours across Christmas, treats the day like any normal one in which he volunteers his time to support EMAS as a Community First Responder (CFR).
He said: “Christmas to me is like any other day, and just because it is Christmas, it doesn’t stop people across Melton being ill and needing our help.
“My children are older now and my wife is a nurse, so they understand the wider picture and why I want to give my time to help others.
“Myself and my colleague Peter Scott will be out covering our respective areas as we have done for many years and making sure that our colleagues at EMAS are supported in responding to patients.”
With so much experience of working over Christmas, Tim says you can usually plan out how the day is going to go and what kind of calls will come up.
“I think with everyone having the same routine and traditions over Christmas day each year, getting the grandparents round, eating at the same time, opening presents at the same time, you do find a pattern in the jobs you attend.
“Usually by late afternoon, granny has gone for a nap and can’t get downstairs, and into the evening you’re going to those who have over indulged just a little bit too much.”
For Tim, working as a CFR puts things into perspective and he wants people to remember, especially this year, that the most important thing is having the ones you love around you and that people are there for you in your time of need.
“As a CFR, you come across people from all walks of life in many different circumstances and it really makes you realise what is important.
“I never ask for presents anymore because I wouldn’t want anyone to sacrifice living standards for the sake of a gift. I think that is even more evident this year.
“Being able to help someone and their family in a time of need is the most important gift to me.”