Fans of the Ellen Show might recognize O’Fallon Fire Protection District firefighter/paramedic Cody Hughes, who appeared on the daytime talk show in 2020.
Hughes, who joined OFPD in January 2022, grew up watching his mom work as a 911 dispatcher and knew he wanted to follow her path into the emergency services field.
“I have always been drawn to the excitement of the job and being able to help others in need,” he says. “Some days are harder or busier than others, but we have a lot of fun and love what we do.
“Every day is different. You can plan some parts of the day, but you never know when a call is going to come or what kind of call you will receive. We prepare for everything and always do our best to come up with the best solutions.”