WINNEMUCCA - While many folks have Christmas and New Year's day off from work or school, there are those who must work those holidays regardless. One of those people is Michael Cogsdill, who is a paramedic with Humboldt General Hospital Emergency Medical Services.
Cogsdill said that he joined EMS in June of this year from Reno, where he worked for Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority for 10 years. He stated that he wanted to work with EMS here as they have a progressive protocol and cutting-edge technology.
Cogsdill was on call Christmas eve and on duty Christmas day this year. He was assigned to work the holiday because, as he puts it, "I'm the new guy on the block."
Cogsdill stated that he has a daughter, Tiffany, 23, who lives here in Winnemucca with her husband and children. Cogsdill also has a son, Conner, 14, and daughter, Addison, 3, who are living in Reno with Cogsdill's girlfriend, Iris Key.
In an interview before Christmas, Cogsdill said that he planned to have dinner with his daughter and her husband on Christmas eve, unless or until he was called out for an emergency. On Christmas day he said he would be in touch with the rest of the family via "Skype." On the Monday following Christmas, Cogsdill said he planned to head over to Fallon to be with the family for the day; a kind of deferred celebration.
Deputy Angel Cardenas was also scheduled to work Christmas day. Cardenas told the Sun that when he knows ahead of time that his shift will fall on an important holiday, his family will celebrate it either the day before or day after.
This year Cardenas, his wife and children had a Christmas eve dinner with his wife's family.
He stated that they open one present on Christmas eve and he helps his youngest children put out milk and cookies for Santa Claus.
On Christmas day, circumstances allowing, he is able to swing by home momentarily to see the children open their gifts. Cardenas said that when he gets off shift on Christmas day, friends and family planned to drop by for a gift exchange.
[[In-content Ad]]
