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3 <br /> 4. Proclamations/ Resolutions/ Special Presentations <br /> a. Public Safety Telecommunicators Week Proclamation <br /> The Board approved a proclamation recognizing the week of April 9-15, 2023 as Public Safety <br /> Telecommunicators 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 (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 /> center operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, three hundred sixty-five days a year, <br /> with a staff of twenty-eight full-time telecommunicators. <br /> Orange County's telecommunicators continue to strive for excellence in their performance and <br /> are among the most highly trained in the state. <br /> Orange County's telecommunicators provide a valuable service to residents, visitors, and public <br /> safety providers. <br /> Laurie Piche, Communications Coordinator for 911 Communications, introduced the <br /> proclamation. She said that in 2022, telecommunicators answered more than 195,000 calls, 90% <br /> of which were answered within ten seconds, which is the North Carolina 9-1-1 Board standard. <br /> She said they dispatched and monitored 92,700 calls for service. She said they provided CPR <br /> instructions for 266 cardiac arrest victims, and assisted in the successful delivery of three babies. <br /> She thanked the Board for the proclamation and invited them to visit the 9-1-1 operations center. <br /> Commissioner Portie-Ascott read the proclamation: <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> PUBLIC SAFETY TELECOM MUNICATORS WEEK <br /> 2023 <br /> PROCLAMATION <br /> WHEREAS, emergencies can occur at any time that requires police, fire, or emergency medical <br /> services; and <br />