MECKLENBURG COUNTY, N.C. — Families and loved ones across the country are coming together to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday. Still, essential workers like first responders are suited up and working to keep our communities safe.
Emergencies don’t stop because it is a holiday, and Mecklenburg EMS (Medic) is staffed 24/7 and ready to respond to calls for service.
“As first responders, we always have to be ready to respond to our community --regardless of what day it is,” Andy Williams, the assistant operations supervisor for the agency, said.
Last year, on Thanksgiving Day, Medic said there were 332 calls to 911 -- 234 needed ambulance transport. That’s about 70%.
Williams said many emergencies happen on the road.
“Thanksgiving is one of the biggest travel days of the year,” Williams said. “So, we always see an uptick in traffic accidents.”
This is also the first Thanksgiving since the agency changed how it responds to 911 calls.
“If you feel like you have an emergency you can call us, we will walk you through that and determine the appropriate response,” Williams said.
The new response configuration went into effect in April with the agency saving lights and sirens for the most serious calls.
“Whether a call requires a paramedic response or an EMT response we can appropriately triage that and send the appropriate response to you,” Williams said.
The goal, Medic said, is to make more efficient use of its staff and resources. Lower priority calls are assigned a response time window of at most 90 minutes.
“We have to get to our sickest patients first so there might be a wait if you don’t have a life-threatening issue,” he said.
Working holidays come with the job, but it doesn’t mean Medic staff won’t sit down and come together for a meal.
“This is where we come together to celebrate our holidays, and thanks to Amelie’s for providing some to-go boxes for us to take,” Williams said.
A potluck is also in the works.
Williams is coming into his 23rd year of service and said he is thankful for all first responders and the support from family, friends and the community.
“There’s no greater purpose than helping your fellow person, your fellow man,” Williams said. “It really just gives me a sense of satisfaction.”
Contact Jesse Pierre at jpierrepet@wcnc.com or follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.