Disney fans, how many of you can honestly say that you love going to work every day? Come on, raise those hands up high!
(All right, all right, so I can’t actually SEE whether or not your hand is raised — you’ll just have to answer me in the Comment Section, below.)
You’re probably wondering why I’m posing such a silly question. Does anyone really love his or her job that much?
Earlier today Jodi Whisenhunt posted an interesting and informative article about the Reedy Creek Emergency Services. It got me thinking about all the men and women who stand ready, twenty-four hours a day, to render aid as needed at the Walt Disney World Resort. Let me introduce you to one of them!
Meet Jeff Armstrong, an EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) at RCES.
“I love going to work each day,” he admits, unabashedly. “There’s never a dull moment!” A lifelong resident of Florida, Jeff has been providing pre-hospital emergency care and basic life support to patients for the past fifteen years, the last nine of these with Reedy Creek. (Reedy Creek Improvement District, or RCID, is the immediate governing jurisdiction for the land of the Walt Disney World Resort). “People sometimes think I work for Disney,” he jokes, “but I don’t wear a costume – I wear a uniform!”
When asked about the uniqueness of providing emergency medical care in a theme park environment, Jeff explained that the only difference between Disney and “the real world” is that all the people he cares for are in a different frame of mind. No matter how sick they may be, “everyone here is on vacation and no one wants to leave his vacation to go to the hospital!” Oftentimes he must use all his powers of persuasion to convince guests that they need medical attention. “I make sure they get the best quality of care,” he says. “If you get sick or hurt [in the theme parks] our average response time is 4 to 5 minutes.” That’s an excellent record, considering that most of their calls come at the end of the night, during parades and fireworks.
Jeff believes that’s because a lot of guests who have chronic medical conditions (such as high blood pressure or diabetes) get into serious trouble when they push themselves too hard and too long. “They want to see everything and do everything because it’s their vacation,” he says. Dehydration and exposure to the elements are the reason behind many of his calls, particularly in the summer months. “June, July, and August are ugly-hot,” Jeff warns. “You must drink 12 to 16 ounces of water per hour to survive Disney.” That’s water — not sugary soft drinks – and the advice applies year-round.
“I remember when they used to give Coke and iced tea to all the kids singing in the Candlelight Processional to drink with their dinner,” he recalls. Once onstage, he says, “the kids used to drop like flies!” Disney has since changed its protocol; only water and power-aid are provided to choir members prior to performing under hot lights in close conditions. According to Jeff, that one change has made a big difference in the number of kids fainting during the performances.
RCES responds to all sorts of emergencies at the Walt Disney World Resort. “When a ride breaks down we often assist people to exit safely,” Jeff explains. “We get called for anything from sprained ankles to kids getting their heads stuck between bars.” Sometimes he even gets to meet celebrities during the course of his duties. “I’ve met Steve Harvey, Peyton Manning, Geena Davis, David Ogden Stiers and Rick Springfield,” he says, recalling how the energetic Springfield, “a 50 year-old in a 20 year-old’s body,” took a fall during one of his performances. Also memorable was the time Regis Philbin made a surprise visit to the station after filming the Christmas parade. “He came bursting in and shook hands with everyone,” he says. “He’s a really nice guy!”
The people Jeff enjoys meeting the most, however, are fellow Disney fans with whom he has connected via Twitter and Facebook. “People go out of their way to find me when they visit the parks,” he laughs, recalling how one man called him a celebrity! In addition to making friends, Jeff uses social media to promote an annual fundraising event that is especially meaningful for him: the Lake Buena Vista Relay for Life. The event, which is held to raise money for the American Cancer Society, also serves to honor people who have been touched by cancer and to remember loved ones lost to the disease.
“My dad died of prostate cancer and my wife’s father died of leukemia,” Jeff explains, “and my sister is a breast cancer survivor.” His entire family participates in the relay. Teams walk in circles around a half-mile course which, according to Jeff, symbolizes the cycle of a cancer patient’s experience. But the Relay is far from a solemn experience. In fact, Jeff says, the atmosphere is very upbeat. “It feels more like a party with food, games, music and prizes.”
This year the Relay for Life will be held on May 4-5 and Jeff will once again serve as the chairman of social media. “I warn everyone that for months I’ll be bombarding them with Relay for Life tweets,” he laughs. You can learn more about the Lake Buena Vista Relay for Life HERE.
Despite spending many hours working within the Disney Parks, Jeff continues to enjoy them thoroughly as a guest. He and his wife and children visit about every four months and always during the Holiday Season. But what he really loves is cruising with Disney. (Living only ten minutes from Port Canaveral is very convenient!) “I’ve been on seven Disney cruises,” he exclaims, and as a result he has developed a preference for the smaller vessels in Disney’s fleet. “The Dream is a gorgeous ship, but it’s very big…I get lost! I prefer the smaller ships…the Magic and the Wonder.” He plans on sailing to Alaska on the Wonder in the near future.
Until then you will find Jeff working somewhere on 42 miles of Disney property, where guests’ health and safety often depend on his quick reaction and competent care. “I really do have the greatest job in the world,” he says. “Each day feels more like an adventure than like work!”
Tom Brokaw once wrote: “It’s easy to make a buck. It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.” Perhaps it’s easier to love your job when you realize you truly do make a difference in people’s lives, every single day.
~ Kathleen Kelly ~
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This article is dedicated to all the men and women of Emergency Medical Services who stand ready to place their lives on the line for the rest of us.
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Connect with me on Twitter @KathyKellyRN or on my blog, The Many Adventures of a Disney-Lovin’ Spectrum Mom
You can connect with Jeff on Twitter @JEFF_EMT
You can connect with Reedy Creek Emergency Services on Facebook
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Thanks for the great article Kathy. Bill and I were joking that we might have met Jeff when we had to be “evacuated” off Imagination into Figment one year. Since Bill is in the wheelchair it didn’t matter that we were about 6 inches from the official exit area, the castmembers had to call Reddy Creek to assist.
I am very thankful that Jeff is there to help the guests in the parks. Thanks Jeff for all you do!!
Thank you Tracy! I learned so much talking with Jeff… and I, too, feel safer just knowing people like him are there if we need them.
I think Jeff is a celebrity too!! My son’s high school is hosting their first Relay for Life event in April, and it will be all the more meaningful after reading your article Kathy. Thanks to both of you
I hope the Relay is successful… you can check out their website at http://www.relayforlife.org/
Kathy what an AWESOME article idea!! Thank you so much to both you and Jeff…amazing!
I’m so glad you liked it, Kelly! Thanks for stopping by the Comments Section to say “Hi!”