Telecommunicators Are True First Responders

Rockingham County Emergency Services Director Rodney Cates salutes 1st responders as the community continues appreciating and celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week beyond April 11-17th.

Telecommunicators had a different theme for each day of the week and they submitted photos to the NC 911 Board for entry into a statewide celebration contest.

Cates explained: "as I have taught in many TC Certification Classes, these men and women are the vital link that initiate the large majority of all calls for service. They have a daunting task of taking a frantic caller's words and trying to paint a mental picture of what they are dispatching units to. This is like trying to complete a 1000 piece puzzle, which has many missing pieces, before units arrive on scene. These men and women are true 1st First Responders That Hold It All Together!"

Rockingham County Government celebrated the second full week of April (April 11-17) as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. This week, sponsored by the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International and celebrated annually, honors the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and render life-saving assistance to the world’s citizens.

www.rockinghamcountync.gov