911 Education Month & Celebrating 9-1-1 Telecommunicator Week April 11-17, 2021
Apr 9th, 2021
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2021
Contact
Public Information Officer
832-237-9911 or (713) 806-9495 cell
NATIONAL 9-1-1 EDUCATION MONTH*
“We Are Here for You - Help 9-1-1 Help You”
9-1-1 TELECOMMUNICATOR WEEK – APRIL 11-17, 2021
(HOUSTON, TX) Greater Harris County 9-1-1 Emergency Network (GHC 9-1-1) announces that 9-1-1 Telecommunicator week is April 11-17, 2021. The month of April is National 9-1-1 Education Month—a time to emphasize the importance of utilizing 9-1-1 for emergency assistance—for police, fire or medical help.
Public safety telecommunicators are the “unseen first responders” who remain calm and professional while using their decision-making skills to address the needs of callers during their specific emergency. They are skilled in multitasking, and respond rapidly to each situation. These telecommunicators provide a calm, reassuring voice to callers who are often upset, panicked or confused. Over the last year, we have faced unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Public safety telecommunicators have worked especially hard, continuing their dedication to serve their residents and public safety responders while incorporating new safety protocols. There are over 1,200 dedicated 9-1-1 calltakers working in 35 different 9-1-1 call centers throughout Harris and Fort Bend Counties.
“GHC 9-1-1 Board and Staff are grateful for the efforts by all 9-1-1 telecommunicators at each of our 9-1-1 call centers especially during this last year during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Lavergne Schwender, executive director. “A resolution was signed by the GHC 9-1-1 Board of Managers recognizing 9-1-1 Telecommunicator Week, and shared with the 9-1-1 call centers and their jurisdictions.”
April is 9-1-1 Education Month—a time to emphasize the importance of the number 9-1-1 for emergency assistance from police, fire or medical responders. Adults and children of all ages save lives every day by contacting 9-1-1 by a voice call or by text. There are over 12,000 calls placed to 9-1-1 everyday throughout the GHC 9-1-1 service area and over 89% are from wireless phones, which take longer to process.
It is common for 9-1-1 call centers to receive calls that should have gone to a different service. Inappropriate calls to 9-1-1 such as reports of power or water outages, lost dogs or keys locked in cars can tie up valuable resources and may delay service for real emergencies. GHC 9-1-1 is promoting proper usage of 9-1-1 on its social media pages during April and will be airing TV and radio ads in its upcoming media campaign to remind the public the purpose and proper use of 9-1-1. To see the TV spots: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ghc911
Our message is Help 9-1-1 Help You and we are urging the public to remember:
• 9-1-1 is ONLY for emergencies—police, fire or medical
• Answer all questions
• Follow all instructions
• Know your location
• Call if you can, text if you can’t
GHC 9-1-1 is the largest 9-1-1 system in Texas administering the 9-1-1 telecommunications and technology infrastructure for 49 cities wholly or partially within Harris and Fort Bend Counties. For more information and to order 9-1-1 educational materials: www.911.org. Follow us: GHC 911 Facebook Page, GHC Twitter Page
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