It's a service you hope never to use, but when you do, it's a relief to hear their voices.
The week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week and North Bay Fire and Emergency Services is recognizing the efforts of North Bay’s emergency telecommunications workers during the pandemic for their contributions in keeping the city safe.
"Our telecommunicators (Fire, Police, and EMS) are the first of our first responders," says Fire Chief Jason Whiteley. "They serve as the lifeline between the community and the help they need during emergencies of all types. Emergency telecommunicators are being recognized for listening and responding, during some of the most difficult moments in our citizen's lives."
Whiteley says telecommunicators are a critical part of North Bay’s emergency services team, especially now, during the COVID-19 response.”
North Bay Police responded on Twitter.
"There’s no hiding behind the numbers. You answer 911 calls. You work 24/7. You’re involved in 100% of our calls. That adds up to a big THANKS to the NBPS communicators for keeping our members & the public safe."
Here's how you can help 911 telecommunications workers when calling.
- Remain calm on the phone
- Know the location of the emergency
- Answer all questions from the call taker
- Provide a phone number
- Remain on the line, even if the call was an accident
911 is for emergencies only and to use alternative phone numbers if not calling with an emergency.
