Thunder Bay’s police service is recognizing and celebrating their 911 communications operators.
April 13 to 19 marks National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
“The ever-changing nature of the work is one of the aspects I truly enjoy,” explained Communications Operator Chantel Randell. “Communication and team trust are essential to ensuring callers get the help they need and first responders receive accurate information. “This is where the strength of our teamwork truly shines.”
These professionals are the link between those facing an emergency and the help they require during moments of crisis.
Their ability to remain calm under pressure, gather vital information, and dispatch emergency responders is a testament to their unique skills and unwavering commitment.
“Our 911 Operators play a crucial role in keeping our community safe, working behind the scenes to ensure that police officers and firefighters can respond swiftly and effectively to emergencies,” said Police Chief Darcy Fleury. “Their efforts are invaluable, and they deserve to be recognized for the sacrifices they make every day.”
As a way to honour 911 Operators, city police says members of the community can follow these tips for using 911:
Call with real emergencies:
- Serious medical problems
- Life-threatening situations
- Fires
- Crimes in progress
For police non-emergencies, call 807-684-1200 when dealing with:
- Crimes where the suspect is already gone and not in progress
- Accidents that only involve property damage
Be patient; even after sending help your way, the 911 Operator may need a lot of details.
The questions they ask may not seem important to you, but they are.
Teach your children to use 911 properly. Use realistic examples of when to call.
Make sure they know to get to a safe spot, have a fire plan, and know to call 911 as soon as possible.
Don’t hang up if you call by accident. Stay on the line and let the 911 Operator know you called by mistake.
This avoids call-backs to make sure you’re ok.
