Thank a 9-1-1 Dispatcher Today!

Each year, during the second week in April, we honor our 9-1-1 Dispatchers by celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicator's Week.  This week is dedicated to the men and women who serve in the many 9-1-1 Dispatch Centers throughout the nation.  While people often think of the police and fire officers during emergencies and disasters, we should never forget that the men and women who sit on the other end of the phone & radio provide an incredible service to our community. 

Our 9-1-1 dispatchers are responsible for handling all 9-1-1 emergency calls throughout Clark County.  The Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It is the responsibility of the dispatcher to accurately, and quickly, identify the nature of your call and assist in solving the problem.

Have you ever wondered WHEN to call 9-1-1?

Call 9-1-1....

• Anytime you have an EMERGENCY when police, fire or medical response is required immediately.
• When life or property is threatened or at immediate risk, or if there is a good chance that a criminal can be apprehended.

If you are unsure how serious an incident is, do not hesitate to call 9-1-1. Assistance will be dispatched to the most critical calls first.  If you should call 9-1-1 by accident, DO NOT hang up. Stay on the line and tell the dispatcher that everything is all right. If you don't, the dispatcher is required to find out the situation and send a police officer to the location from which the call originated.

When you make a 9-1-1 call, dispatchers will ask you several questions. Please don't take offense and scream at them to just get you help. When an emergency call comes in one dispatcher will gather information, while another dispatcher dispatches the call to fire and/or paramedics. Answering questions and giving the appropriate information is not slowing down response time.

Dispatchers are trained to get as much information as possible to best determine the nature of the problem. The information that you provide can assist officers in determining what they will need in order to keep others safe and out of harms way. Also, please realize that the dispatchers are trained to perform many tasks at once. If they ask you to hold, it is because they are dispatching help to you!

It is also important to teach your kids about how to use 9-1-1.  Your children should know key information like their address, home phone number and parents' names. 
For more information about the Clark Regional Emergency Services Agency (CRESA), click http://www.cresa911.org/ for more information.

We are fortunate to have such dedicated dispatchers in our 9-1-1 Center.  While this one week is especially dedicated towards recognizing their service and those throughout the nation, remember that a simple "thank you" is welcome anytime. 

Thank You, 9-1-1 Operators!