Agenda - 12-03-2012 - 4a - Laserfiche WebLink

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1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date:December 3, 2012 Action Agenda Item No.4-a SUBJECT: North Carolina 9-1-1 Board Recognition of Orange County Emergency ServicesTelecommunicator Thomas Holmes,Jr. No DEPARTMENT:PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) Emergency Services ATTACHMENT(S):INFORMATION CONTACT: Dinah L. Jeffries, 245-6100 F.R.Montes de Oca, 245-6100 PURPOSE: To provide the opportunity for North Carolina 9-1-1 BoardExecutive Director Richard Taylor to recognize Thomas Holmes, Jr., anOrange County Emergency Services 9-1-1 Telecommunicator, for professional and outstanding performance during theextraordinary circumstances in assisting with the birth of a baby on November 7, 2012 in Chapel Hill, NC. BACKGROUND: Each day hundreds of Orange County residents and those passing through the County rely on the expertise and dedication of public safety telecommunicators. On November 7,2012, an individualcontacted 9-1-1 to reporta woman giving birth at abus stop in Chapel Hill. Telecommunicator Thomas Holmesanswered the call and quickly gatheredthe necessary information to dispatch assistancewhile also providing instructions to the caller. Mr. Holmes’ actionsresulted in a successful outcome for the baby and mother. Mr. Holmes’ training and skill in high-pressure situations allowed forrapid emergency responsewhile providing aid and compassion in a difficult situation. The North Carolina 9-1-1 Board governs fundsreceived from Wireline and Wireless telephone lines. The 9-1-1 Board allocatesmonthly distributions to primary public safety access points (PSAPs) pursuant to North Carolina General Statute (NCGS)62A-46 and providesgrants to PSAPs pursuant to NCGS62A-47. The North Carolina 911 Board continually strives to make the 911 system in North Carolina more effective and more efficient. The public often hears of negative occurrences, especially those of telecommunicators,and rarely learnsof the many positive lifesaving actions that trained telecommunicators perform each and every day. The 9- 1-1Board has realized that, in order to provide the same level of service from “Murphy to Manteo”, consistent training and standards must be in place for all the 128 PSAPs in North Carolina. The training and standards must be reinforced, and telecommunicators also need to be recognized for their outstanding work.