Guests at the annual First Responders Cookout enjoy a game of cornhole Thursday evening. (Heather Mann for The Tribune)
CULLMAN – As part of EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Week, Cullman EMS hosted the annual First Responders Cookout at Sportsman Lake Park Thursday evening. EMS workers, Air Evac Lifeteam, members of the local law enforcement and firefighters from several of the area’s departments enjoyed food, friends and the chance to win door prizes.
EMS employees provided all the food and drinks – barbecue, hot dogs, sausage, baked beans, chips, cookies, ice cream and soda – as well as one of the door prizes: a wooden plaque honoring the medical services. The other prize, a cooler, was brought by Air Evac Lifeteam. In addition to the food and prizes, guests enjoyed games of corn hole and an inflatable slide for the kids.
Cullman EMS Director James Curtis described the cookout as a way for first responders to come together and see everyone outside of their stressful work environments. “It’s just a good time for us to get together with all our community partners – you know, the sheriff’s department, the volunteer fire departments, us folks in the EMS, the hospital – for everybody to come together and just fellowship a bit away from all the stresses of work,” said Curtis, who shared that a lot of first responders also use the meal to spend time with their families, as many often spend more time at work than at home.
Curtis shared some ways to avoid needing to call EMS during the summer.
“This is what we call the trauma season,” he explained. “There’s a lot of people doing activities outside, and so we get a lot of people that unfortunately get injured. The biggest thing is a lot of heat-related injuries, so drink plenty of water and don’t overdo it, everything in moderation. If (people are) out there riding their ATVs or they’re out on the water, (they should) have their life jacket on out in the water and helmets when on their ATVs to help keep themselves safe.”
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