St. Tammany Parish will be honoring the men and women who serve as public safety dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, April 11 – 17, 2010.

 

Introduced to Congress by the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) International in 1991, National Public Safety Telecommunications Week is the second full week of April each year. This week is dedicated to public safety telecommunicators who aid in providing emergency assistance to citizens everywhere.

 

Every day millions of people depend on the skill, expertise and commitment of the men and women who work in public safety telecommunications. These individuals help save countless lives by responding to emergency calls, dispatching emergency professional and equipment and providing moral support to citizens in distress.

 

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. Many people don’t stop to think about these seemingly nameless, faceless individuals until they experience actual emergencies themselves. These professionals make the difference between life and death in many instances.

 

By officially recognizing these public safety telecommunications professional, St. Tammany Parish hopes to awaken public awareness and promote much needed education regarding important safety issues.

 

For more information about National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, call (985) 898-4911.