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A Heartfelt Thank-You: Celebrating Telecommunicators Week

Published Apr 2021

Every year for the past 40 years, the public safety community pauses in April to recognize... well, you. The legions of dedicated telecommunicators who serve the public, one person at a time, guiding each through some of their very worst moments with skill and compassion.

2021 is no exception, but after more than a year of a pandemic, civil unrest and natural and man-made disasters layered onto an already taxing job, the gratitude we extend to those who go to work every day at PSAPs/ECCs across the country is even greater.

We know you have served truly and well, that the hours have been long and hard on not just you but your families and friends. It has not been easy.

Which is just one reason the National 911 Program is proud to support a number of efforts to honor and support our nation’s telecommunicators:

  • The “911 Telecommunicator Tree of Life” is a collaboration between NG911 Institute, the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials (APCO), the National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA), the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and the National 911 Office to honor and celebrate the individuals who serve each day. Go to www.911treeoflife.org to share an inspiring story recognizing a telecommunicator you know.

  • Helping telecommunicators understand Next Generation 911 (NG911) and the changes it may bring. Whatever you’ve heard about the transition to NG911, you almost certainly have questions and maybe even some concerns. With that in mind, the 911 Program just released the latest publication in our NG911 series for public safety leaders, “NG911 for Telecommunicators,” specifically written from your perspective, to help you understand what to expect and how to get involved in these essential updates.

  • Prioritizing the mental and physical well-being of telecommunicators. Learn more about this important subject, including how PSAPs/ECCs and 911 professionals themselves can take action to improve self-care in an article in the “NG911 for Telecommunicators” publication.

  • Resources PSAPs/ECCs can use to communicate the value of the reclassification of telecommunicators to “protective service occupation,” a change that would recognize the exceptional work 911 professionals do daily. As part of the federal government, the 911 Program cannot lobby in support of this work, but we strive to collaborate with our federal partners and have created resources to help the 911 community take action in the reclassification effort.

To learn more about this year’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, go to https://www.npstw.org and the organizations below:

APCO

Visit APCO’s Telecommunicators Week web site and participate in the 2021 "Who is Your Public Safety Hero? " contest.

DoD

Tune in and read up in the many Defense Media publications and radio stations as the Department of Defense recognizes and honors telecommunicators around the globe.

NASNA

Visit the NASNA-hosted Know911.org web site to access 911 Education Materials and ideas for celebrating Telecommunicators Week in your PSAP.

NENA

Visit NENA's Education Month web page and be sure to follow all of the Telecommunicator Week activities on NENA's Facebook and Twitter accounts.

NG911 Institute

Get ready for the first virtual NG911 Honor Awards and Technology Showcase on April 13, 2021. Visit the Institute's web site for updates on Honor Award winners, highlighted technology, keynote speakers, and event registration.

National 911 Program

Check out the CPR LifeLinks Celebrating Survivors toolkit at 911.gov to learn more about implementing and celebrating telecommunicator CPR activities at your PSAP.