News Releases for April 2007
April 09, 2007
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Public Safety Telecommunicators Week Announced
BISMARCK, N.D. - Governor John Hoeven has declared the week of April 8-14 Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in North Dakota, in conjunction with a national proclamation sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International. The proclamation honors the many telecommunications professionals who provide public safety communications services and 9-1-1 emergency assistance throughout the state.
“The amount of coordination involved providing the public with a reliable communications process, originating from an individual’s initial report from nearly any location to dispatch of the closest first responders 24 hours a day, is remarkable,” said Brent Nelson, North Dakota 9-1-1 Association President and Walsh County 9-1-1 Coordinator. “The public safety telecommunications community includes not only telecommunicators, but also supervisors, directors, managers, engineers, technicians, consultants and all of those that provide materials and services to ensure those calls, and the resulting notifications, are carried out. This week recognizes all of their efforts as well.”
The term “9-1-1” is often associated with rapid emergency response, poise under pressure, aid and compassion in times of distress and critical decision-making within seconds. Everyday, thousands of people depend on the skill, expertise and commitment of communications center dispatchers across the entire state and nation.
“Nationally, this week has been set aside so everyone in every community can be made more aware of the hard work and dedication our emergency dispatchers provide, services everyone has come to rely upon every day,” said Division of State Radio’s Dennis Czichotzki. “Our communications specialists, as well as dispatchers at local Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) throughout the state, provide the first access point for those individuals seeking help and provide moral support and compassion during periods of distress until help arrives.”
The idea to designate a specific week to honor public safety telecommunicators was first conceived in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County (Northern California APCO Chapter) Sheriff's Office.
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