Ship Bottom Fire Thanks 911 Dispatchers

SHIP BOTTOM, NJ— In an average year, over 240 million 911 calls are made in the United States, with emergency dispatchers being the first point of contact in any emergency situation. According to the NJ EMS Data Repository, New Jersey handles over 1.5 million incidents annually. For National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW), April 13-19, Ship Bottom Fire Company celebrates and honors the invaluable contribution made by telecommunication personnel – who are commonly called dispatchers - to public safety.

“Dispatchers bridge the gap between the people calling 911 for help and the first responders who provide it,” said Ship Bottom Chief Todd MacLennan. “They are an essential part of emergency services.”

NPSTW is a week dedicated to acknowledging and thanking telecommunicators for their critical role in emergency response. Every day and night all across the country, public safety telecommunicators answer emergency and non-emergency calls. They connect callers to emergency care and provide valuable resources to those in need. Emergency dispatchers also provide crucial information to firefighters and EMS personnel every day.

Ship Bottom Fire Company knows firsthand the critical role that telecommunicators play in public safety. Without their dedicated service and hard work, the timely response and effective management of emergencies would not be possible.

Ship Bottom Fire Company Provides the Following Tips for Speaking to 911 Telecommunicators

Calling 911 is very stressful and it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. If you choose to call 911, know what to expect and how to react:

• 911 is for police, fire, and medical emergencies only. Non-emergency calls should be directed to non-emergency phone numbers.
• Details are critical. Stay on the line with the 911 operator and answer all their questions.
• An accurate location is crucial for first responders to act as fast as possible. If you do not know the exact address, provide the details that you can such as landmarks, cross streets, signs and buildings.
• Try to stay calm and speak clearly.
• Don’t hang up when calling 911. If you called by mistake, let the operator know.
• DO NOT call 911 for jokes or prank calls.

This NPSTW, Ship Bottom Fire Company expresses its deepest gratitude and appreciation to telecommunicators and all emergency dispatchers across the nation for their unwavering commitment to public safety.

Are you ready to protect the community and respond when a fire or another emergency call comes in? Sign up to volunteer with our team at shipbottomfirefighters.org.