National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 10-16

Imagine never knowing what was going to be on the other end of the phone when you answered it.

That is what your local 911 telecommunicators have trained for.

The men and women who answer 911 need to be prepared for anything. They are the “first” first responder on the scene and if they do not react quickly, ask the appropriate questions, calm the frantic caller, and send the right response then the entire call is off track.

April 10-16 is National Public Safety Telecommunications Week and honors those who answer emergency calls, dispatch emergency personnel and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the citizens across the nation.

In Washington County there are 12 telecommunicators with over 150 years of experience answering calls every day.

The Communications staff includes Cara Sorrells, Sandy Lovetinsky, Teresa Todd, Melanie Huschka, Issak Kleese, Shelley Reed-Wulf, Brittany Stutzman, Hunter Erwin, Delainey Parish, Riley Thomann, Unity Stevens, and Susan Holub.

We are extremely proud of the entire staff for their dedication. We also want to take the opportunity to thank those personnel that we communicate with everyday who help us do our job.

This includes the law enforcement officers, ambulance personnel, fire fighters, first responders, emergency management, tow truck operators, public health nurses, funeral home directors, emergency room personnel, public works and roads personnel, and animal control personnel just to name a few.

This is our second year celebrating the week in our new facility and we could not be more excited. We are planning to honor these local behind the scenes heroes with special activities in the building throughout the week.