SACRAMENTO — The California Highway Patrol (CHP) recognized emergency operators Wednesday in honor of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
“The dedicated public safety dispatchers you speak with at our communications centers throughout the state are highly trained professionals. In an emergency, they may be the first person within our agency that you may come in contact with,” CHP Commissioner Joe Farrow said.
“We are proud of the vital and often life-saving services they provide on a daily basis,” he added.
The agency said its dispatchers have challenging jobs since the majority of wireless 9-1-1 phone calls made in the state go through the CHP.
The operators ensure callers receive appropriate emergency assistance when needed. They also stay in constant radio contact with patrol officers, often assisting with vehicle and person identification.
“We commend the employees who provide radio, telephone and computer services to the public and CHP officers in the field, and we appreciate their continued dedication and professionalism,” Farrow said.
The CHP has 25 communications centers employing 900 public safety dispatchers statewide. Those operators handled roughly 9.3 million calls for service in 2011.
The agency said it understands calling 9-1-1 can be stressful and offered some tips to residents:
– Stay calm, no matter what happens
– Callers should prepare to provide their name, phone number, address or location, and a detailed description of the incident
– Let the dispatcher guide the conversation. Wait for the operator to ask questions, and then answer clearly
– Listen carefully and follow all directions given by the dispatcher
– Be prepared to provide a physical description of any criminal suspect
– Cellphones don”t always inform the dispatcher from where the call came. Use a landline whenever possible
– Use 9-1-1 for life-threatening situations only. Misuse of the emergency 9-1-1 system will delay callers with real emergencies and can result in a fine of up to $1,000
