Alexandria, VA — Today, U.S. Representatives Robin Kelly (D-IL), Norma Torres (D-CA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Peter Meijer (R-MI) introduced the Providing Resources and Occupational Training for Emotional Crisis and Trauma in 9-1-1 Act, or the ‘‘PROTECT 9-1-1 Act.” If enacted, this bipartisan legislation would establish several measures to advance health and wellness for public safety telecommunicators including: establishing a system for tracking public safety telecommunicator suicides; developing best practices to identify, prevent, and treat posttraumatic stress disorder in public safety telecommunicators; developing resources to help mental health professionals better treat these personnel; and establishing grants for health and wellness programs in emergency communications centers.

9-1-1 professionals protect and save lives every day: coaching callers through CPR, calming suicidal callers, and handling emergency calls for assistance from responders in the field, among other work. They endure substantial stress as part of their role in emergency response. Research has shown that approximately one in seven 9-1-1 professionals has experienced suicidal thoughts in the past year, which is more than four times the rate in the general population. The legislation introduced today includes several measures that will support these professionals. APCO worked closely with Congresswoman Kelly’s office to craft this legislation for the benefit of APCO’s members and the full community of 100,000 public safety telecommunicators in the United States.

“Public safety telecommunicators have tremendous responsibility and face substantial health and wellness challenges as part of their work,” said APCO President Margie Moulin. “The helpful provisions outlined in this bill will provide much-needed assistance for these heroes. APCO thanks Representatives Kelly, Torres, Fitzpatrick, and Meijer for their leadership on this issue.”

APCO International® (www.apcointl.org)
APCO International is the world’s oldest and largest organization of public safety communications professionals and supports the largest U.S. membership base of any public safety association. 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.