The crews who will be there for you throughout the festive season
As we tuck into our Christmas dinner this year and enjoy the festivities with our family and friends, spare a thought for the emergency workers who have given up this special time to continue to be there for you throughout Christmas.
EMRTS medics will as usual be on stand-by with our Wales Air Ambulance colleagues in Dafen, Welshpool, Cardiff and Caernarfon, meaning they will spend the Christmas festivities with their colleagues and crew, instead of the families, to ensure the people of Wales are safe.
It is just another ‘normal’ day at the base for the crews – but there will be Christmas decorations and a secret Santa for the teams working this year.
EMRTS Critical Care Practitioner Derwyn Jones will be working his third Christmas on the WAA.
He said: “It’s just like any other shift really, the routine in the morning and throughout the day is just the same as any other shift.
“Obviously, it is Christmas Day, so it’s a bit different in terms of being away from family and friends and the festive celebrations that are going on at home. But we make things a bit easier on base by having Christmas trees and decorations.
“I think what really helps as well is that the whole team is in the same situation, so we all sort of bounce off each other and have our own Christmas Day.”
The crews are normally fortunate to have Christmas lunches or buffets made for them by local pubs or volunteers.
Derwyn added: “Normally we do have some kind of Christmas dinner on the base as part of the day. But then again it all depends on what calls we have, potentially we could be away from the base all day.”
CCP Caz Artur has worked a couple of Christmas day shifts for the Wales Air Ambulance, as well as previously working in A&E during the festive period.
She said: “I’m used to changing Christmas Day and celebrating it a little bit later, but lots of shift workers do that.
“I actually love the festive period on base. We decorate it with some weird and wonderful decorations, we will have a little tree and maybe add a little festive sparkle to the flight suits. In general, morale is really good and we’re a close team so it’s like a little work family.
We will always try and make it fun and probably have way too many snacks and sweets.”
After working for the NHS for 15 years, CCP Cat Dalton is also used to celebrating Christmas Day with her family on another day.
This year Cat will be giving up spending quality time with her little boy at Christmas to be on shift. She’s hoping Santa will gift her ‘tickets to a fun day out’ with her family and son.
The Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique Third Sector and Public Sector partnership.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
As a pan-Wales service, the dedicated air ambulance crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency lifesaving care.
Pilot Captain Euan Laird has also worked many Christmases throughout his flying career. He said: “Working Christmas Day always leaves me with the feeling I'm missing out on something, whether it's with family or friends, and slightly guilty that, due to the work I've chosen over the years, I've been absent from many Christmas mornings as my son has been growing up.
“Working over the festive period has become easier now that my son is grown up. Also, due to the work pattern, I'm home after every shift now.”
There’s still the magic of Santa, or Secret Santa at the bases this Christmas. Derwyn hasn’t got much on his list for Santa this year apart from the ‘usual socks, box of aftershave and shower gel’.
However, last year he was fortunate not to work Christmas Day but made sure he played a part in making it special for the rest of the crew.
He said: “Last year I was off, so what I did was buy a Christmas gift for all those on shift and put it under the tree. Some of our pilots also buy us presents too – so we try to make it as normal as it can be.”
So, what message have the crew got for you?
Cat’s message this year is ‘have a wonderful time, be kind to others and enjoy yourselves, but most importantly keep safe’.
Caz said: “I hope everyone has had a wonderful year, and I hope everyone has a fantastic time with their friends and families and really enjoy themselves. I wish them all a happy and healthy 2025!”
The Wales Air Ambulance Charity needs to raise £11.2 million each year to keep its helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road. Donations and fundraising events are key to the service’s survival.