(Atlantic, Iowa) – This week, April 9-15, 2023 is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. It’s a time to pay recognition to the men and women who staff not only the Cass County Communications Center, but those who are the First “First Responders”. April is 911 Education Month, in Iowa. When you call 9-1-1, dispatchers guide you through the steps to take to ensure your safety before help arrives. They also provide lifesaving instructions over the phone in instances of cardiac arrest and other critical EMS calls.

Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon spoke about the dispatchers at the Comm Center.

Combined, the dispatchers have over 100-years of experience. Kennon said there’s always someone on-duty to take calls.

Not everyone is qualified to handle the stress when you’re dealing with multiple calls or events.

Kennon says it can also be rewarding, when the dispatcher is able to assist in saving lives, such as in the case of someone having a heart attack, by providing the caller with instructions on how to conduct CPR, etc. In addition to handling 9-1-1 calls, operators in most counties are capable of receiving 911 Text messages.

He says if there’s a situation where you question if you should call 9-1-1 instead of an Administration or Non-Emergency line, call 9-1-1. They can determine if help should be sent. Just don’t abuse the service.