Québec Emergency Telecommunications Operator Week – April 10-16, 2022 (Canada)

by | Apr 9, 2022 | Comm Center News

The largest health communication center in Québec handled 374,186 calls in 2021–2022

MONTRÉAL, April 8, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ – More than 110 emergency medical dispatchers (EMDs) responded to 374,186 calls in 2021–2022, an average of 1,025 calls per day. A peak of 1,653 calls was reached on November 13, 2021! The health communication center, which receives more than 40% of emergency calls in Québec, is an important link in the pre-hospital service chain, and its employees play a key role in responding to people in distress in the Montréal and Laval area…

New recruits for Lenawee County Sheriff’s office; still overworked (MI)

New recruits for Lenawee County Sheriff’s office; still overworked (MI)

by | Apr 9, 2022 | Comm Center News

ADRIAN — While progress is being made with hiring, the Lenawee County Sheriff’s Office continues to be plagued with staff shortages in all its departments, from road patrol and corrections to dispatch and records keeping.

The Sheriff’s Office reported last month that recruitment and retention was its No. 1 priority. Toward that end, staff members have been busy attempting to achieve this goal, and conditional offers have been extended to numerous applicants for dispatch positions. If all of the candidates successfully make it through the hiring process, the Sheriff’s Office will have a full staff of 20 for central dispatch…

Tompkins County proclaims Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NY)

Tompkins County proclaims Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NY)

by | Apr 9, 2022 | Comm Center News

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is the second full week of April, and in their April meeting this week, the Tompkins County Legislature presented a proclamation marking April 10-16 as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in the County.

County Legislature Chair Shawna Black presented the proclamation on Tuesday night to Emergency Response Director Michael Stitley…

Two women with the county seal on the wall behind them look on while a man at a podium holds up a proclamation he has just received

County dispatch center workers support each other while helping others (SD)

County dispatch center workers support each other while helping others (SD)

by | Apr 9, 2022 | Comm Center News

No lights are on in the Pennington County dispatch center save for the blue lights of computer screens and flashing yellow and reds to quietly tell co-workers who’s currently on a call.

Calm voices echo on the radio across the room to alert emergency services personnel to those in need of help despite the sometimes high-stress calls that could come in.

“It can get pretty hectic in there,” said dispatcher Sami Simon. “There’s a lot of radio traffic, the phone are ringing all the time. We’ve got out intercoms that we’re talking to each on so we can let different dispatchers know…

Behavioral health clinicians help Bakersfield dispatch teams take 911 calls (CA)

Behavioral health clinicians help Bakersfield dispatch teams take 911 calls (CA)

by | Apr 9, 2022 | Comm Center News

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KERO) — They may not bear a blue badge but they’re important in keeping our city safe. Behavioral health clinicians on dispatch teams are pretty unique to Bakersfield and are already proving to make a difference.

City Councilmember Eric Arias said that those who dispatch and answer the calls to a scene don’t get paid as much as some of their county colleagues. There’s already significant dispatcher turnover, so they hope changes will keep them around.

“Our police officers are dealing with incredibly intense, difficult situations. Every day, and we know that there’s a tremendous amount of mental health in the community,” said Stacy Quwahara, Behavioral Health Director, Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services…