240 million—that’s approximately how many calls are made to 9-1-1 in the U.S. each year*, and the total keeps growing.
Given that there are only 5,748 primary and secondary Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) nationwide, that’s a lot of calls for the human operators to handle.
During the week of April 13 through April 19, Deschutes County will be celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW) to raise awareness of the invaluable work done by Deschutes 9-1-1, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
We seem to always focus on those resources that respond to the scene with the lights and sirens, but we often forget about the Dispatchers who are the first ones to get the call and often try to make sense out of frantic voices on the other end of the line. Without the skills of the Public Safety Telecommunicator, none of the subsequent efforts would be possible.
If you know any of these individuals or Telecommunicators from another agency, reach out to them and tell them how much you appreciate the work they do. The services we provide to the citizens of Waushara County could not be provided without these hardworking individuals.
Each April, agencies across the country take time to honor the unsung heroes of emergency response during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. This year, from April 13th to 19th, Marshall County joins communities nationwide in recognizing the dedication, skill, and commitment of our 911 Communications Specialists and Leadership staff. These individuals are often referred to as the Nation’s true “First, First Responders,” and for good reason. They are the calm in the chaos, the guiding voice in our darkest moments, and the critical link between crisis and response.
As the director of communications for the Newtown Emergency Communications Center, I am honored to submit this letter to The Bee on behalf of my staff for National Telecommunications Week (April 13 to 19).
We are nine strong with two per diems, covering shifts 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, during storms, holidays, you name it, we show up for you. I try to remember to honor staff with luminaires at Ram Pasture and these yearly letters. I do it because Public Safety Telecommunicators (PSTs) are the unsung voices heard in the dark on your worst day.
