Letter to the Editor: Not everyone appreciates sirens at 9am
Tuesday, December 26, 2023
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| Shoreline fire truck Christmas parade Photo by Steven H. Robinson |
To the Editor:
At just before 9am on Christmas Day, I woke up to the sound of sirens and emergency vehicles, and panicked - I dashed out into the living room to see what was the matter, and was dumbfounded to see some kind of celebratory parade with Santa, blaring Christmas music (which I couldn't hear until it was right in the front of my house). Why the heck would folks think this was a good idea? I understand wanting to celebrate the holiday, but this was terrifying! And the fact that there was no mention of it on the Lake Forest Park city website OR the Shoreline fire department one made it all the more upsetting.
I'm not one to be Bah Humbug, but to be awoken by sirens and blaring horns is terrifying - all I could think of was how awful someone's Christmas was going to be, and started having flashbacks to when I had to go to the emergency room at this time last year. My heart is still pounding and I'm shaking a little as I write this. I'm still hearing the horns shrieking across the neighborhood and thinking of other folks with PTSD, pets who panic at loud noises, people who don't celebrate Christmas, new parents with babies, or even just folks who had a late night and are trying to get some sleep. This is the worst Christmas present I've ever received and I wish I could return it.
I absolutely hate the idea of being labeled a Grinch here and can understand the playful spirit in which this was done. But to not understand how this might be scary and disruptive - let alone to do so at this hour, with no warning - seems absolutely daft and kind of calls into question the judgement of the leadership that would approve such an action.
Seriously, I hate to sound like such a complainer about this, but I'm still having issues calming down. Last year I was in the emergency room until 3am, and I can only imagine how I'd have felt if something like this woke me up then. I count on emergency folks to possess a sense of kindness and consideration in addition to the incredible work they do, and am grateful for their service - but I have to call this out as a terrible choice.
Thank you for reading, and I wish you a pleasant holiday season.
Anne VanderMeer
Shoreline
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18 comments:
I love that this tradition is still happening! I grew up in Shoreline (before it was Shoreline) and raised my kids there. Santa coming down the street on the fire truck was an event we all looked forward to every Christmas morning over the years. And, yes, it was at about 9 a.m. I'm sorry this joyful event brought the RP stress. I would have hoped that once realizing what the commotion was about they could have enjoyed some holiday spirit.
Lisa P.
Shoreliner For Life
I couldn't agree more- that was troubling and confusing. I could hear them in the near distance and literally thought someone was joyriding a fire truck or traffic was so bad around the scene of an accident that it took 20 minutes for emergency vehicles to reach the scene.
I'd like to echo Anne's letter. When I first heard the sirens, I thought "oh, there's a fire." Then when they continued blaring, I thought, "good lord, someone's fireplace must have burned five houses down" and went outside to look and smell for smoke.
Then I heard Bing Crosby in the distance and started to feel rotten for any third shift nurses who were trying to sleep. It was the kind of racket one would expect living a block from Harborview, not in sleepy Shoreline.
The pervasive noise was poorly thought out and should not be repeated, particularly on a holiday.
They have done it for years. Most people love it!!!! Now you know, so you don’t have to complain next year. Kids love it
I completely sympathize with Ms. VanderMeer! Sirens should be reserved for actual emergencies, not for showing off. And yes, many people are traumatized by sirens, for various reasons. They do not find sirens "fun" or entertaining. If this event was announced in advance, I'm not aware of it.
It's not that I'm simply annoyed by sirens and loud fire trucks (when there's no fire). Our emergency departments need to be aware of potential ill effects from people being traumatized by sirens. More people than you think have PTSD and other emotional health issues. Sirens are stress-inducing for many of us.
Please, Shoreline emergency departments, think carefully about using taxpayer-funded equipment for stunts like this in the future. I'm sending this comment to our city council members as well.
I'm so sorry that you were scared by the unexpected sirens, Anne! The Christmas Santa firetruck has come to the Richmond Beach neighborhood every Christmas morning for many years, so after the first time we experienced it, it has no longer been a surprise. They honk the "horn" so that the kids (and the rest of us) know they're coming and can locate them as they go up and down the streets. Even though our kids are grown and have been out of the house, we really enjoy it and look forward to it. I hope you get a "heads-up" in the future, so you can be prepared and ready to enjoy it too. Merry Christmas!
My name is Lynette. I’m
sorry for your pain. When my visiting 30 year old daughter heard those same sirens on Christmas morning she exclaimed, “Here comes Santa Claus!” We moved here when she was six and for many years she enjoyed the annual visit from Santa on the fire truck. How do we reconcile the trauma you experienced against the joy that was hers?
I also wondered what was happening. We have a new grand baby visiting and that many sirens are not helpful when you are trying to let an infant sleep. I thought for sure there must have been a disaster.
I thought there would be a lot of not-so-keen on-sirens people out there! Not a good idea, even though the thought behind it was likely good.
Anne VanderMeer, you are no grinch. I was walking my dog. Like you, I was initially horrified and struck by sadness for someone's ruined Christmas. I stood at road's edge with my hands over my dog's ears, and hallelujah, they finally cut their 6? 8? sets of blaring horns and blasting sirens as they passed beside us. Still, it made me want to go start a fire somewhere so they'd have something else to do!
Ditto to this! We were worried the first year we experienced this too-just not knowing. Then, learned what it was and have loved and appreciated it ever since. Kids love it too. We know to expect it each year. I understand the concern but would hope after learning the intent & why, the impact would be or feel less significant.
I have never heard of this tradition. However after reading this letter, I think it is a great idea and wish something like this happened in my area. I'm so sorry that this frightened you and can see that you've thought of many scenarios as to why this would be disturbing to some. However, I can only assume that there are many people who do and would look forward to this tradition.
The joy of Christmas comes only but once a year. Surely you can attempt to deal with this for ONE day out of the ENTIRE year. In a perfect world, we all would get what we want. Unfortunately, that is not the case.
Yes, perhaps the emergency departments could have announced it on their websites and social media pages to give a heads up to newcomers and to also remind residents of the upcoming event. By doing so would help newcomers understand what to expect and to give residents a chance to prepare for that specific day if needed. That much I do agree with.
However, to emergency departments and people who help save lives everyday and have such a serious job nearly every time they hop into an emergency vehicle... I just want to say thank you for your service. You can't please everyone. I am glad you are able to take a moment away from the seriousness and trauma that you deal with on an EVERYDAY basis. I see your efforts in trying to take a moment of your time to spread good cheer.
I'm sorry for the quick wake up and feeling worried. This tradition has been happening for 50+ years on Christmas Day.
We (and our neighbors) are delighted by it and I have 20+ years of photos of my children with Santa and the fire truck.
I hope you'll remember for next year so you don't feel worried or startled.
I also hope, with all my heart, that this letter to the editor doesn't end up canceling a tradition that has been going on for literal decades.
There is lots of love for this fun tradition on the Shoreline Fire Facebook page.
They could probably just do it with the music over the loudspeaker and skip the sirens/horns that can be so troubling. A happy medium.... the music is plenty loud for all to hear. It's a nice tradition.
We love it. Glad that it happens after 9. Just wish the truck would go down
15th Ave ne too so I didn’t have to frantically get my kids out the door and run to find the truck. Thank you for bringing whimsy to our holiday.
This is the answer. Don't cancel a tradition that people enjoy, but leave the sirens for life and death emergencies when you need to prod clueless motorists out of the way.
And Instagram! Follow them on social media so you know what to expect next year!
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