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1 <br /> ORANGE COUNTY <br /> BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br /> Meeting Date: April 4, 2023 <br /> Action Agenda <br /> Item No. 4-a <br /> SUBJECT: Public Safety Telecommunicators Week Proclamation <br /> DEPARTMENT: Emergency Services <br /> ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br /> Proclamation Laurie Piche, 919-245-6157 <br /> Kirby Saunders, 919-245-6123 <br /> PURPOSE: To consider a proclamation recognizing the week of April 9 -15, 2023 as Public Safety <br /> Telecommunicators Week in Orange County, highlighting First Responders for their amazing work <br /> throughout the year. <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 (California) Sheriff's Office in 1981, this practice <br /> was recognized by Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Massachusetts) in what became House <br /> Joint Resolution 284 to establish "National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week". With the <br /> continued efforts of the International Association of Public Safety Communications Officials and <br /> the National Emergency Number Association, the act to recognize public safety <br /> telecommunicators became a permanent 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 lives <br /> by answering emergency calls, dispatching law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical <br /> personnel and equipment, as well as providing support to the residents and visitors of this county. <br /> Their skills in high-pressure situations assist in providing 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 non- <br /> emergency service calls in the County. In 2022 NC Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) <br /> answered 7.5 million 9-1-1 calls. Orange County 9-1-1 telecommunicators answered 84,314 9- <br /> 1-1 calls and handled over 107,000 administrative calls. The telecommunicators dispatched over <br /> 180,000 calls for service with an average of five telecommunicators on duty. The communications <br />