FFD frees child's head stuck in a hotel chair
A child’s head stuck in a chair and an ambulance assist made up the calls for service last week for the Frankenmuth Fire Department.
At 1:52pm Thursday, April 2, Saginaw County Central Dispatch 911 dispatched the FFD to the Fairfield Inn, 430 South Main Street, for a child who got her head stuck in a chair.
With the Frankenmuth Police Department and MMR Ambulance Service responding, FFD Captain Brandon Schmitzer arrived and advised the fire department’s only choice was to use tools to make the opening wider, to free the child’s head.
Following 30 minutes of work, and no injury, the head was free and the FFD cleared the scene. Eleven fire personnel reported to the fire station.
Alarm No. 53 for 2026 took place at 10:18pm, also on Thursday, April 2. The call was for medical assistance on North and Center streets in the Village of Tuscola,
FFD Crew Leader Jeff Weiss said a quick assist was given and the department’s firefighters cleared within 15 minutes. A total of nine fire personnel reported for duty.
In other FFD news, Frankenmuth Fire Chief Phil Kerns discussed his department’s calls involving vulnerable persons.
“It’s nothing new for public safety responders to encounter children, children and adults, with special needs, and persons with memory issues, who are victims to a variety of incidents,” Kerns stated. 𠇊s you see mentioned above, the FFD and others responded to a call where a child’s head became lodged in a hotel room chair’s back opening after she inserted it there while playing. Going beyond how, it’s amazing what we are called to handle.”
In this case, other than being frightened, firefighters were able to distract the child with a stuffed animal while tools were used to free the five-year-old youth from the chair. Thankfully, local groups and clubs have supplied the FFD and FPD with these comfort creatures as well as tie blankets and even special kits for victims with autism.
�rtainly, many of us first responders are parents, but the mere presence of these aids also helped us in calming the victim until we can safely mitigate the situation. Just last month, we provided a toddler with a warm blanket while he watched his apartment building burn. Thank you to those groups who supply us as your gifts are put to good use by your public safety personnel, quite often,” Kerns said.
Kerns said, currently, the FFD’s supply of comfort items is well stocked and they do not have a need, at this time, for additional items.
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