CAPCOG to recognize emergency telecommunicators in April

CAPCOG, in its capacity as the Capital Area Emergency Telecommunications District, will honor the region’s more than 800 emergency telecommunicators during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week — April 10 through 16 — and encourages local jurisdictions to participate in recognizing the unending services and dedication of those answering 9-1-1 calls.

“Emergency Telecommunicators are the critical link to callers and other public safety personnel responding to their tragedies,” said Pam Frisk, CAPCOG 9-1-1 senior training and public education specialist. “They help save lives and are often the first person someone hears during a crisis; going through a caller’s tragedy with them can be the hardest part of the job.”

In the CAPCOG region, emergency telecommunicators answer nearly 2 million calls and text a year. In some circumstances, they have led callers in providing lifesaving care, communicated how to deliver babies, instructed how to respond to a fire and much more. Communities can celebrate their emergency telecommunicator during the week by hosting appreciation parties and gatherings, publicly recognizing their work, and through other activities. The CAPCOG Executive Committee proclaimed the week as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week at its March meeting. A draft proclamation is at capcog.org/divisions/emergency-communications/. Other ideas to recognize telecommunicators are at npstw.org/.