The results are in and the Calgary Fire Department’s drive-by birthday program was a resounding success.
From April 8 to May 31, fire crews completed 8,676 greetings for children aged four to 12 and citizens over the age of 75 to help them celebrate their special day while physical distancing during the height of the COVID-19 outbreak.
The program was also meant to reassure the public that emergency responders are there to support them.
Fire Chief Steve Dongworth said the department received 8,926 requests and it was only unable to attend three per cent due to emergency commitments.
“That’s just awesome, from our perspective,” Dongworth said in a news conference on Wednesday. “We were able to brighten people’s days, those four- to 12-year-olds and those over 75 that weren’t able to celebrate their birthdays in the normal fashion due to COVID-19.”
Often, he said, the drive-by celebrations would turn into a community event with other children and Calgarians participating in the celebration.
“The whole street would come out to the fire truck and wave and join in, singing Happy Birthday,” Dongworth said. “We had whole apartment buildings on their balcony and sing Happy Birthday.”
Fire crews also participated wholeheartedly, decorating the fire trucks, singing and announcing who was celebrating their birthday over the loudspeakers.
Dongworth said one unusual request they received was to visit “Baby Orange,” who was celebrating a fifth birthday.
“When the crews showed up, there was a lady with a cat in her arms,” he said with a chuckle.
In another instance, the crews were able to multi-task. Last Saturday they received an emergency request for a cardiac arrest amid one of their birthday drive-bys and were able to attend both calls, with the patient expected to make a full recovery.
“Almost certainly they made a difference in that person’s life (celebrating their birthday) and they most certainly saved a life,” Dongworth said.
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The program is now completed as the province continues its relaunch and Calgarians are able to resume birthday celebrations in a more normal fashion, while continuing to exercise caution due to the ongoing risk of the coronavirus.
The Fire Department hopes to resume some of its usual programs like home safety, testing fire hydrants, and business inspections, and thus will no longer have the capacity to complete the volume of visits the birthday program had.
However, based on the drive-by program’s success, the department wanted to continue it in some fashion.
While many children were overjoyed at the lights and sirens, Dongworth said it was the reaction of seniors and elderly that had the most impact. One of their eldest recipients was celebrating a 105th birthday.
To that end, the department announced Wednesday it would continue the program for those celebrating their 100th birthdays. Requests are made by calling 311.
Dongworth said the department hopes the program evolves into personal visits from emergency responders.
“We hope to meet with that person, wherever they are — in a care facility centre, at home — and celebrate their birthday with them and recognize what a life they’ve had,” he said. “Seeing 100 years of history is a remarkable thing. . . We hope it will be meaningful to the community just as it will be for us as an organization.”
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