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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: April 4, 2017 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 8-e <br /> SUBJECT: Public Safety Telecommunications Week Proclamation <br /> DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Proclamation Kevin Medlin, 919-245-6100 <br /> Dinah Jeffries, 919-245-6100 <br /> PURPOSE: To adopt a proclamation designating the week of April 9 through 15, 2017 as <br /> Public Safety Telecommunications Week in Orange County. <br /> BACKGROUND: Every year across the nation, the second full week of April is dedicated to the <br /> professional women and men who serve as public safety telecommunicators. First conceived by <br /> Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County (Calif.) Sheriff's Office in 1981, this practice was <br /> recognized by Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) in what became House Joint Resolution 284 to <br /> create "National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week". With the continued efforts of the <br /> International Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and the National Emergency <br /> Number Association, the act to recognize public safety telecommunicators became a permanent <br /> proclamation in 1994. <br /> Each day hundreds of Orange County residents and those passing through rely on the expertise <br /> and dedication of public safety telecommunicators. These professionals help save countless <br /> lives by responding to emergency calls, dispatching law enforcement, fire and emergency <br /> medical personnel and equipment and providing support to the residents and visitors of this <br /> county. Their skills in high- pressure situations allow rapid emergency response, aid and <br /> compassion in times of great distress and critical decision- making within seconds. <br /> Orange County Communications is the primary answering point for all emergency and <br /> nonemergency service calls in the County. In 2016 NC PSAP's (Public Safety Answering Points) <br /> answered 7. 8 million 9- 1- 1 calls. Orange County 9- 1- 1 Telecommunicators answered 99,093 <br /> emergency calls and handled 144,341 administrative calls. The telecommunicators dispatched <br /> over 180, 000 calls for service with an average of 6 telecommunicators on duty. The <br /> communications center operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week with a staff of <br /> twenty-six full time telecommunicators, and one part-time telecommunicator. <br />