If you ask the men and women who answer nearly 250 million calls to 911 each year about their remarkable work, they’ll probably tell you they’re just doing their job. But the truth is they’re helping to save many lives every day. That’s why, for nearly 40 years, communities nationwide have made it a point to observe National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week during the second week of April. In 2020, it’s April 12-18.
This year people have taken to social media to show their appreciation, and telecommunicators have used it as an opportunity to show off their work. #NPSTW
Over the years, the work of telecommunicators has changed in many ways. Dispatchers are constantly being trained on new technology and equipment that can be used to better serve the public. Later this year, another advancement is expected to launch. With more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring in the United States each year, according to the American Heart Association, many times it’s 911 dispatchers who get the first calls for help. A dispatcher-assisted CPR initiative is being designed to help communities save more lives through the implementation of telecommunicator and high-performance CPR programs.
In Lexington, E-911 Center not only takes emergency 9-1-1 calls but also coordinates the dispatching of those responses to police, fire and other agencies as necessary. E-911 also serves as the 24/7 call center for Lexington Police.
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