CFS volunteer Emma Patterson can remember the first time she attended a serious road accident.

And no matter how many more she has attended since, that one will always stick in her mind.

“We are a road crash brigade at Aldinga, so we deal with quite a few of them,” Ms Patterson said.

“Living in a tight-knit community in Aldinga, we end up going to people that we know a lot of the time, so those calls are always hard.

“The first serious incident I went to was a collision with a child and my son was the same age at the time, and it was horrible.

“You think of your own child and it was pretty horrific.”

Ms Patterson, who has been a member of Aldinga’s Country Fire Service Brigade for the past 15 years, has since provided assistance to countless road accidents.

The mother-of-four, who also works within a district policing team for SAPOL, is one of SA's Emergency Services workers who have received complimentary tickets to attend the Crows’ clash against Brisbane this Sunday.

Speaking to AFC Media, Ms Patterson said she joined the CFS to follow in her father’s footsteps, after watching him represent the same brigade.

She said having the support of her family, fellow CFS volunteers and SAPOL colleagues makes the juggle and the workload all worth it.

“My Dad is a member, he has been for years and years, and I can remember him responding to calls (from the CFS) when I was a kid, and I wanted to be like him,” Ms Patterson said.

“It’s just a juggling act, but I am very grateful and lucky to have a very supportive brigade. I just had a baby three weeks ago and the brigade is amazing, and I also have a supportive husband and family which makes it possible for me to do what I do.

“We can go to some pretty nasty things (as a police officer and CFS volunteer), people call us on their worst possible day, but having the support of your team and colleagues, that’s what makes it OK.”

Ms Patterson, an avid Crows supporter, says she is looking forward to attending the clash against Brisbane on Sunday, which is also Mother’s Day, with her husband and three-year-old son.

“It’s (the initiative) great because it shows there’s appreciation for us there,” Ms Patterson said.

“For us, it’s not about receiving free tickets or anything like that, because those who are in the emergency services field do it because they want to, not because there’s a benefit for them.

“But in saying that, I know there’s a few guys who are going to the game on Sunday and it’s just that bit of appreciation for the time and the effort and being away from families on top of their every day jobs.

“It’s just a little bit of a bonus and makes us feel appreciated.”

Adelaide plays Brisbane at Adelaide Oval on Sunday at 3.30pm.