National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week Is April 14-20
Alexandria, VA — Communities across the U.S. will recognize those who help save lives in times of personal or national crisis during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW), April 14–20, 2013.
NPSTW gives Americans the opportunity to thank 9-1-1 calltakers, dispatchers, technicians who maintain radio and emergency phone systems, communications staff trainers, supervisors and managers, and other telecommunications staff across the country who work hard every day to protect our communities.
“NPSTW is a way for us to recognize public safety telecommunicators for performing mission critical tasks behind the scenes to support police, fire and emergency medical personnel,” said Terry Hall, president of APCO International.
The general public can honor their calltakers and dispatchers by participating in local celebrations or sending thank you notes to their local communications center. The Association of Public-Safety Officials (APCO) International has established a National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week blog where agencies can share celebration ideas, along with photos of this year’s festivities. Citizens can share thoughts of gratitude and personal stories.
Initially conceived in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in California, Telecommunicators Week was created to raise public awareness of the hard work and dedication of public safety telecommunicators. In October 1991, APCO International successfully lobbied to receive a formal proclamation by Congress, renaming the week National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week (NPSTW), to recognize all public safety communications professionals who provide a vital link to the public safety services on which Americans rely every day.
To learn more about NPSTW, visit www.npstw2013.org.
APCO International is the world’s largest organization of public safety communications professionals. It serves the needs of public safety communications practitioners worldwide – and the welfare of the general public as a whole – by providing complete expertise, professional development, technical assistance, advocacy and outreach.
