Loudoun County, VA –The week of April 8 thru Saturday April 14, has been recognized as Virginia Public Safety Telecommunicator’s Week by Governor Robert F. McDonnell. Loudoun County joins public safety agencies across the state and country to honor the work of public safety communications professionals.
National Public Safety Telecommunications Week is a week set aside by Congress and celebrated by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) to pay tribute the work public safety communications professionals.
“This recognition is well deserved,” stated Loudoun County Fire-Rescue’s Deputy Chief of Communications Corey Parker. “Our Emergency Communications Personnel are the initial first responders to an emergency incident. The work our folks do sets the foundation for every incident our emergency responders go to; from taking the initial call, verifying the correct location, dispatching the appropriate units, providing pre-arrival instructions to the caller, and communicating critical pre-arrival information to our responders, all of these pieces have to fit together for every incident. It is truly an honor and privilege to work with such outstanding professionals.”
Each day, thousands of Americans dial 9-1-1 for help in emergencies that span a wide spectrum ranging from life-threatening situations and crimes in progress to minor accidents and unusual situations. The professional public safety telecommunicators who answer these urgent calls, gather essential information, and dispatch the appropriate assistance often make the difference between life and death for persons in need. Loudoun’s telecommunicators are usually the first responders to citizens’ calls for help.
“Loudoun’s emergency telecommunicators are the heart of public safety and the vital link between residents and first responders,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Michael L. Chapman
Designating a specific week to honor public safety telecommunicators was first conceived in 1981 by a member of APCO International’s Northern California Chapter. APCO International introduced the week to Congress in October 1991. According to congressional procedure, it was introduced twice more – in 1993 and 1994 – before becoming permanent without the need for yearly introduction. National Public Safety Telecommunications Week is the second full week of April each year and is dedicated to public safety telecommunicators who aid in providing emergency assistance to citizens everywhere.
###