We took a moment on October 28 to recognize National First Responder’s Day. When we think of First Responders our minds often turn to police, emergency medical services (EMS), and firefighters. Most of these individuals are not paid personnel, but rather volunteer their time to respond to dangerous and stressful situations at a moment’s notice.
There is one title, however, that you might consider all the unsung heroes of the service: dispatchers.
Separate from the emergency scene and tucked behind a computer, dispatchers are key players in taking information from distressed callers and translating the basic information to the needed resources. They also may remain on the line to comfort or to give instructions regarding emergency care.
A prime example of the importance of a dispatcher made national news three months ago when Chicago Police Dispatcher Keith Thornton controlled a call involving two officers shot while on duty. From miles away, Thornton controlled radio traffic to ensure clear communication. He helped to talk his additional responding officers through CPR instructions, while instructing the other officer to drive and providing him with the best route to the hospital. Not only did Thornton’s work rightfully gain national attention but it gave one of the officers a second chance at life after being released from a rehab facility last month. Unfortunately, the other officer died at the scene.
It is no secret why New York’s lawmakers pushed to pass S.7121/A.6934-A which recognizes 911 dispatchers as First Responders. This legislation was carried by Peter Abbate in the Assembly and Diane Savino in the Senate. The Suffolk AME also made a push to have their workers validated for all the work they do. The legislation made it to Governor Kathy Hochul’s desk to be signed on the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano (R-Medford) assisted in the early phases of the bill and has pulled from his own experience in the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Communication Bureau when advocating for the measure.
“This has been a long time coming,” said DeStefano. “Dispatchers are the first point of contact when handling an emergency call.”
This day of recognition is the first of many for dispatchers in light of their legislative victory.
