911 Dispatchers are the first in a line of personnel to talk to a person in distress about an emergency. These unsung heroes are being recognized this week as part of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
Dispatchers alert police, fire and EMS when residents call in times of an emergency. They gather as much information as possible when a call comes in to relay to emergency personnel to best assist the caller with their situation.
There are some medical instances where dispatchers can relay life-saving skills over the phone to help someone sustain life until emergency personnel can arrive at the scene.
Dispatchers receive multiple hours of training to handle all types of emergencies.
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is observed through Saturday, April 15.
