MALONE — The Franklin County Office of Emergency Services hosted an event Wednesday afternoon to recognize National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.“Franklin County is fortunate to have an exceptional team of dedicated dispatchers who are committed to our communities and first responders in their time of need,” Emergency Services Director and Fire Coordinator Ricky Provost said.Last week, The Franklin County Board of Legislators unanimously voted in favor to proclaim the week of April 10 to 16 National Dispatchers Week.Legislative Chair Donald Dabiew on Wednesday presented the dispatch team an official copy of the resolution.The gathering included presentations and demonstrations with on-the-job equipment and assets by the Malone Callfiremen, Malone EMS, New York State Police and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office.According to the county Office of Emergency Services, the county 911 Dispatch Center receives close to 70,000 emergency-related calls each year and provides telecommunication for 19 fire and EMS departments, eight EMS agencies, three village police departments, state police and tribal police.Franklin County dispatchers are reminding the public about ways to make a 911 call less stressful for all involved.Before being able to send appropriate responders, a dispatcher needs to know crucial information such as the location.Cell phones do not always provide an accurate location, dispatchers say, and locations must be validated by the caller. A confirmed phone number is recommended in case a call is disconnected prematurely.After getting location information, dispatchers will ask what type of emergency is being reported and whether there are concerns for the safety of responders.While this information is collected, another dispatcher sends out the emergency information while the call is taking place in order to deploy responders in a timely manner.Dispatchers say it is important for callers to listen to the dispatcher because they may provide instructions prior to the arrival of responders.The Office of Emergency Services is hosting two upcoming classes.The Constable Fire Department is offering a Vehicle Rescue: Operations Level class at 6 p.m. April 25.A WebEx-based class for fire investigations for the line officer will be offered at 6:30 p.m. May 11 and 8:30 a.m.
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Area public safety personnel from police, to firefighters, to medical personnel, to storm spotters marked National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Emergency personnel are increasingly reliant on telecommunication for accurate, detailed, and timely information about their situations. In addition to the traditional two-way radios, first responders have access to mobile data from the Internet and their headquarters, and the ability to communicate with other agencies when mutual aid is required. Dispatchers are the first in the chain of notification.“What I personally do for my dispatchers,” Pontotoc County 9-1-1/Central Dispatch Daniel Manuel said Wednesday, “is try to write them notes, and give them little gifts and stuff like that to show them how much we appreciate them.“I like to make others aware that it is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, so they can give (the dispatchers) a pat on the back,” Manuel said. “I just try to let people know what’s going on, because dispatchers really are the first link in the emergency chain of survival. They are true first-responders.”
Manuel says the things dispatchers encounter on the phone with the public is “just incredible.”Manuel also said he likes to cook for them.“I’ll cook for some of them, or for some of them I’ll buy them food, since they don’t all like the same thing,” Manuel added.The week-long event, typically held in the second week of April each year, was initially set up in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in California. It is a time to celebrate and thank those who dedicate their lives to serving the public. It is a week that should be set aside so everyone can be made aware of their hard work and dedication.

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