Be Sure to Thank 9-1-1 Dispatchers

Hillsborough County Emergency Dispatch Center Media Open House

When: Thursday, April 18, 10 a.m.-Noon

Where: Hillsborough County Emergency Dispatch Center (inside Emergency Operations Center), 2711 E. Hanna Ave, Tampa.

PHOTO AND INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITY

During the week of April 14-20, National Telecommunicator Week is held to recognize and shed light on the important job that public safety telecommunicators in the 9-1-1 emergency dispatch centers provide to communities.

These telecommunicators are residents’ first link to emergency response -- providing medical and fire instructions to residents, while dispatching appropriate emergency response units to the scene.

These telecommunicators follow a set of national protocol questions used by more than 30,000 dispatch centers to determine the level of care needed and also to give life safety instructions, such as first aid and CPR. 9-1-1 telecommunicators receive more than 48 hours of training to be certified by the National Academy of Emergency Medical and Fire Dispatch.

Hillsborough County has nine 9-1-1 centers that assist the following public safety agencies and geographic areas: Hillsborough County Fire Rescue; Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office; Tampa Police Department; Tampa Fire Rescue; Temple Terrace Police Department; Plant City Police Department; MacDill Air Force Base Alarm Center; Tampa International Airport Police Department; and University of South Florida Police Department.

Last year, Hillsborough County’s Fire Rescue Emergency Dispatch Center (EDC) answered approximately 80,000 9-1-1 calls, and coordinated and transmitted more than two million radio transmissions to Fire Rescue units. In addition, the staff of 29 employees made 95,341 outbound calls to coordinate resources, and entered 105,637 calls for dispatch into their Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system.

Other duties of the Hillsborough County EDC include around-the-clock monitoring of the Tampa Port siren and the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital fire alarm.

In addition, the EDC monitors the statewide (Emergency Management Network (EMNet) for routine and emergency information from the State Watch Office such as bad weather and information on significant events that will impact Hillsborough County, and refers the information to the appropriate agencies.

All Hillsborough County EDC dispatchers are certified emergency medical and emergency fire dispatchers through the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch.

Important 9-1-1 Call Tips:

When To Call 9-1-1

• Call 9-1-1 only when there is an emergency. An emergency is when immediate police, fire or medical assistance is necessary to protect life or property. If you do not have an emergency or need general information, call the appropriate agency's non-emergency telephone number.

What To Expect When You Call 9-1-1:

• Know the address or location of the emergency you are reporting
• Know the telephone number you are calling from
• Never hang up until told to do so
• Follow the 9-1-1 call-taker's instructions and answer the 9-1-1 call-taker's questions as accurately as you can. Sometimes in an emergency, it may seem like these questions are being asked to determine whether or not you need help. In actuality, they are being asked to determine the level of help you need. Remember, trained dispatchers never ask questions that are unnecessary.

Calling 9-1-1 From A Cell Phone:

• Most cell phones in use today have the capability of being located when dialing 9-1-1. To be sure your cell phone has 9-1-1 location capabilities, check with your service provider or cell phone manufacturer.
• Don’t text 9-1-1 from a cell phone. The technology is not yet available, and the emergency dispatch center will not be able to see the message.

Calling 9-1-1 From An Internet Phone:

• Since Internet phones can be moved from location to location, users need to register their phone's location whenever it is moved.
• Check with your service provider on how to register your phone's location and to determine the level of 9-1-1 service they offer.

If You Call 9-1-1 By Mistake

• Do not hang up! Let the 9-1-1 call-taker know you called by mistake.

Make Sure Your Home Or Business Can Be Found

• Make sure your address is clearly posted on your home or business so it can be seen and read from the roadway by emergency responders.