Eat.
Many people in Essen work voluntarily at Christmas. Why these days are often particularly fulfilling in the rescue service and in nursing.
- Not all people have free on public holidays.
- Many are Essenes voluntarily in service.
- What the work at ambulance service and nursing special on days like this.
Working when others are sitting comfortably with the family and enjoying the holiday meal – for many Esseners, for example in the rescue service and in care, that is part of it. Why working on public holidays does not have to be associated with frustration and can often even make you really happy.
The service for Marvin Anuschewski, Christopher Dilling, Timo Hölterscheidt and Batuhan Kilin begins rather quietly on Christmas Eve. The men work for the German Red Cross as paramedics or paramedics. Her everyday work is mostly stressful, there is hardly any time for a coffee by the Christmas tree in the operations center on Hachestrasse. When the digital pager on their belt beeps, a team grabs their jackets and sets off with the ambulance.
At the DRK in Essen, many volunteer for service on public holidays
“We will be informed by the fire department. Operations in the city center, Holsterhausen and Frohnhausen are mostly carried out from Hachestraße, but also elsewhere if there are no ambulances available at the time,” explains Timo Hölterscheidt. Like many of his colleagues, he volunteered for Christmas service. “There are usually colleagues on duty who, like me, have no children so that the others can spend time with their families,” says Hölterscheidt.
He signed off for all family activities for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. After the twelve-hour shift until 8 p.m., all he felt like was relaxing. Then he has to sleep, because the next shift starts at 8 a.m. in the morning. “The celebrations will be made up for on Boxing Day.” His colleague Marvin Anuschewski (34), on the other hand, is only on duty until 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve, then he goes home to celebrate with the two children.
Are the assignments on Christmas different from those on other days? “On public holidays, an estimated 60 percent of the operations are psychiatric emergencies,” says Marvin Anuschewski. Paramedics are also trained to try to help in conversation and, in difficult cases, make sure the patient gets psychiatric help.
In many cases, the emergency services are not actually responsible
In many cases, the emergency services are simply not responsible. “We take care of people with a heart attack, shortness of breath or a broken leg, but not toothache or headaches, constipation or the like.” In such cases, it makes sense to take a look in the medicine cabinet or to contact the medical emergency service.
During the conversation, Marvin Anuschewski and his colleague Christopher Dilling suddenly have to go. A drug user at the main train station is apparently not doing well. “We often can’t really help because many of the people who warm themselves up on the subway’s exhaust air shafts don’t even want to go to the hospital. You can only take one bag with you,” explains Timo Hölterscheidt. A shopping trolley, in which homeless people often transport their belongings, cannot be attached to the emergency vehicle and therefore cannot be taken with you. “People are just afraid that when they come back, their stuff will be gone.”
Being able to save lives is a strong motivation
The patient without a permanent address wants to go to the hospital this morning. “He had older wounds that are being treated there now,” reports Christopher Dilling after the operation. Actually, one was not responsible in this case either, as is so often the case. “But if there is just one person who you can really help and maybe even save his life, then that’s a good feeling. I wanted a job where I can say I’ve made a difference,” says Timo Hölterscheidt about his motivation.
The situation is similar for colleagues in nursing. It goes without saying that the elderly in the Solferino care center of the German Red Cross in Essen-Horst also have to be looked after and cared for on public holidays. Michelle Hammermeister (25) likes to look after the elderly, even on Christmas Eve. She manages one of five living areas in the house and is on duty until just before 3 p.m. on December 24th.
18 residents live in their area. Michelle Hammermeister prepares breakfast and decorates the room for Christmas. Then she starts her round through the rooms. “I want to make people’s day as pleasant as possible.” Since she has been working in care, she has voluntarily taken on public holiday duties. “Then it’s particularly informal, the people are in a slightly different mood, you feel a lot of gratitude,” she describes the special thing about these days. She can still celebrate with her boyfriend and mother after work: “My family accepts that. I’m very happy that I don’t have to prepare anything.”
Dominik Jäschke (37) can also be found at his desk in the DRK care center on the holidays. As head of social services, he makes sure that everything runs smoothly in social care. “I’m on duty on Christmas Eve and on Boxing Day, on the first holiday there is time to celebrate with the family.” His partner also works in a social profession, and the daughter has known from an early age that he often works on public holidays. And on Christmas Eve it’s also nice to sit down at the set table with your parents after work.
“Here in the care center there is a great willingness to work on public holidays,” says Jäschke. “The atmosphere is special, it’s quieter than usual because there are no doctor visits or therapies pending. Some residents are picked up by their families, others have visitors. It’s just nice to be a part of the residents’ Christmas.”
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