Headline:
Norwegian Frontline Workers Brighten Children’s Hospital Holidays with Annual Visit
Subheadline:
Eight years running, police, firefighters, and paramedics bring joy and distraction to young patients and their families.
Article:
Norwegian emergency services personnel are spreading Christmas cheer, visiting children’s wards at Oslo’s Rikshospitalet and Ullevål Sykehus on Little Christmas Eve. The annual tradition, now in its eighth year, sees police, firefighters, and paramedics donningSanta hats and joined by a helicopter from the Rescue Services to bring smiles to young patients and their families.
"It’s incredibly moving when we enter the ward and see the children connected to tubes and machines, yet they light up when we arrive," says Police Officer Håvard Grønli, one of the initiators of the tradition. "We want to give them a break from their tough daily reality and connect with the hospital staff in a different setting than just work."
The initiative is voluntary, with officers, firefighters, and paramedics visiting during their free time. "We do it to bring joy to those spending Christmas in the hospital, which can be tough for both patients and their loved ones," adds Grønli.
Due to privacy regulations, the press is not permitted inside the hospital, but Grønli shares an anecdote: "One mother told me our visit made her child forget their discomfort for a moment. That’s why we keep coming back."
This year’s visit had an extra touch of excitement as the Rescue Services helicopter ‘SAR Queen’ from Rygge airbase landed on Ullevål’s helipad, and its crew joined the festivities. "Maybe the helicopter was transporting Father Christmas himself?" jokes Operations Leader Rune Hekkelstrand from Oslo Police, encouraging everyone to look out for each other this holiday season.
