CARMEL, Ind. — Santa wasn’t the only person working on Christmas Day. While families celebrated, first responders were on the clock making sure their community stayed safe.
One crew with the Carmel Fire Department answered a holiday call to help a sixth grader visiting family in town who woke up with an unexpected problem — a ring that wouldn’t come off.
“I got this ring, and I put it on my finger, and when I fell asleep, I think it was too small. It made my finger puff up, so then I couldn’t take it off.”
Sienna and her family went to the Carmel Fire Department for help removing the ring safely.
After an ice bath and careful work from first responders, Sienna’s finger was finally freed.
“These rings are extremely difficult to get off,” Paramedic Lt. Michael McNeely explained.
McNeely shared that the department stays prepared with specialized tools for situations like these.
“It’s a specialized kit that we keep in one of our apparatus here in the department. Luckily, we don’t need it a lot, but when you need it, you need it.”
That preparation matters every day of the year — including holidays when first responders continue answering calls while others celebrate.
“Any holiday that we work is pretty typical when it comes to the number of runs,” McNeely said.
We extend a special thank you to the first responders who work holidays and help make moments like Sienna’s a little brighter.
This story originally appeared in 13WTHR NBC affiliate.
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