Bucks County officials took time last week to honor the dedication and critical service of the county’s 9-1-1 dispatchers during National Safety Telecommunicators Week.
The Bucks County Commissioners declared April 14 to 20 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week in the county.
Last year alone, the Bucks County 9-1-1 center in Ivyland managed more than 781,000 calls, dispatching 547,000 responses to a number of emergencies.
The feat highlights pressure and responsibility shouldered by the 125 trained staff members who operate the 9-1-1 system, which takes calls and texts around the clock.
Bucks County Commissioner Chairperson Diane Ellis-Marseglia called the team the “unsung heroes.”
Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo said the dispatchers have a crucial role, especially during crises.
Dispatchers help ambulance crews, firefighters, and police officers during emergencies, DiGirolamo said.
John Geib, director of emergency communications, thanked the staff for their work and noted how difficult the work can be for dispatchers, who often are hearing some of the worst moments in a caller’s life.
The goal of the Bucks County 9-1-1 Communications Center, as noted in their mission statement, is to “provide all of our customers accurate, timely and professional emergency communications services.”
The Bucks County Department of Emergency Communications has evolved since its inception in 1963 when it was housed under the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. Over the decades, the center has expanded services to include emergency medical agencies and fire companies. It upgraded its technology with a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system in the 1980s, and grew its training programs and radio systems. Today, the center supports more than 130 emergency agencies and continues to serve as a critical link between the public in distress and the first responders.
