Fire Chiefs Assoc. Praises Public Safety Telecommunicators

Chester County Fire Chiefs Association Celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week April 12-18

Chester County – The volunteer firefighters of Chester County’s Fire Chiefs Association is thankful for the dispatchers’ efforts and dedication to saving lives. National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is always the second full week of April, this year April 12-18, and honors the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and provide life-saving assistance to citizens. Now, more than ever, their role is critical.

While the volunteer firefighters of Chester County enter burning buildings and fight fires, saving lives would not be possible without the dispatchers who obtain essential details and send firefighters to the correct location. Chester County’s 9-1-1 Communication Center handles over 900 emergency calls each day to dispatch police, fire, emergency medical services and emergency management services.

“We recognize our telecommnicators as unsung heroes,” said Chief Neil Vaughn, Chair of the Chester County Fire Chiefs Association Recruitment & Retention Committee. “By screening calls and conveying the proper information they help us get to the fire in time and save countless lives.”

Often talking to someone experiencing one of the worst days of their lives, telecommunicators remain calm in times of distress and often help calm the person on the other line. If 911 callers are injured or trapped in a burning building, instructions from a dispatcher may be crucial to stabilizing and saving lives.

Emergency telecommunicators face different challenges depending on the time of year as well and need to be prepared for various disasters to strike. Pennsylvania often faces harsh snowstorms in the winter and summer thunderstorms can evolve quickly from nothing to a dozen calls in a few minutes.

While Chester County’s center is staffed with telecommunicators, the 55 volunteer fire departments in Chester County need more volunteer firefighters to answer their calls. Training and gear are free and there are many ways to volunteer at your local fire company. To learn more about opportunities available, visit www.helpfightfire.com.

Chester County – The volunteer firefighters of Chester County’s Fire Chiefs Association is thankful for the dispatchers’ efforts and dedication to saving lives. National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is always the second full week of April, this year April 12-18, and honors the thousands of men and women who respond to emergency calls, dispatch emergency professionals and equipment, and provide life-saving assistance to citizens. Now, more than ever, their role is critical.

While the volunteer firefighters of Chester County enter burning buildings and fight fires, saving lives would not be possible without the dispatchers who obtain essential details and send firefighters to the correct location. Chester County’s 9-1-1 Communication Center handles over 900 emergency calls each day to dispatch police, fire, emergency medical services and emergency management services.

“We recognize our telecommnicators as unsung heroes,” said Malvern Fire Company Chief Neil Vaughn, immediate past president. “By screening calls and conveying the proper information they help us get to the fire in time and save countless lives.”

Often talking to someone experiencing one of the worst days of their lives, telecommunicators remain calm in times of distress and often help calm the person on the other line. If 911 callers are injured or trapped in a burning building, instructions from a dispatcher may be crucial to stabilizing and saving lives.

Emergency telecommunicators face different challenges depending on the time of year as well and need to be prepared for various disasters to strike. Pennsylvania often faces harsh snowstorms in the winter and summer thunderstorms can evolve quickly from nothing to a dozen calls in a few minutes.

While Chester County’s center is staffed with telecommunicators, the 55 volunteer fire departments in Chester County need more volunteer firefighters to answer their calls. Training and gear are free and there are many ways to volunteer at your local fire company. To learn more about opportunities available, visit www.helpfightfire.com.