A 911 Dispatcher, or Telecommunicator, is the first person you talk to when you call 911 to report an emergency.
Dispatchers alert police, fire and EMS to respond to a reported incident or 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.
These unsung heroes are being recognized this week as part of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
Dispatchers receive multiple hours of training to handle all types of emergencies. 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.
Thank a dispatcher this week for their efforts to assist the community in times of emergencies!
National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is observed through Saturday, April 20.
