Sheriff's Department Honors Telecommunicators

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Published on April 12 2016 4:11 pm
Last Updated on April 12 2016 4:11 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

The Effingham County Sheriff's Department is honoring Telecommunicators during this National Telecommunicators Week April 10-16, part of National 9-1-1 Education Month.

Did you know that the 911 Telecommunicator is the first "first responder" on the scene of an emergency? 911 Telecommunicators and Dispatchers answer the emergency calls and get help to the scene. Your worst day is their work day.

In an emergency, seconds matter, so being knowledgeable and prepared can make all the difference. By better understanding how the 911 system works, you can be better prepared should an emergency strike. That's why the month of April is recognized as National 911 Education Month.

Knowing the basics can help ease the stress of making a 911 emergency call. First off, know when to call. 911 is for police, fire and medical emergencies. After making the emergency call, provide your name, address or location of the emergency, telephone number, and type of emergency you are reporting. Remain on the line and answer all of the 911 dispatcher's questions. Stay calm and speak clearly. Rest assured that as you provide the information, the 911 dispatcher is generating a call for service and sending help your way.

Know your address! If the problem is not occurring at your home, look for businesses or landmarks nearby. While out traveling, watch for street signs, mile markers and road names. Unless you call 911 from a landline, the exact address of where you are calling from is not pinpointed. When you call from a landline, the caller's location and phone number is sent directly to that location's Public Safety Answering Point. This allows help to be disatched to the location even if the caller cannot communicate with the 911 call taker. When making a wireless 911 call from a cell phone, the call is transmitted to the nearest cell tower, sometimes ringing into a different jurisdiction from where your emergency is actually taking place. Knowing your location when making a wireless 911 call is extremely important as wireless service providers are only required to be accurate up to 300 meters, or the distance of up to three football fields. Telecommunicators can't stress enough to know your location. Teach your kids from a young age their home address. Tell your teen driver to watch for road signs and to be aware of their surroundings. Post your address in the home such as on the refrigerator. Post your address clearly and prominently at the end of your driveway or on your home. These simple tips can save crucial time when getting help to you in an emergency.

Most people do not realize that 911 Telecommunicators in Effingham County are Emergency Medical Dispatcher certified by the State of Illinois. Often times, callers want to give just a brief description of what is going on and hang up right away. Staying on the phone with the dispatcher and answering a series of questions they ask is important in providing the best possible care for your loved one. 911 Dispatchers are EMD certified so they are able to provide pre-arrival care instructions such as CPR. Once the initial call comes in, the dispatcher tones out the appropriate services. Dispatchers then obtain every bit of information that will help first responders be prepared all while being a calming presence letting the caller know they are not alone. Having EMD certified 911 dispatchers in our area is a true bonus and could save a life.

During their eight to 12 hour shift, 911 dispatchers handle a wide variety of call types. Unfortunately, several of those calls are 911 hang-up or misdial calls that could easily be prevented. If you ever dial 911 by accident, simply remain on the line and let the telecommunicator know it was a mistake. If you hang up, the 911 call taker must call you back and try to determine if there is an emergency or not hindering their ability to handle other ongoing emergencies. Remember that cell phones no longer in service will still call 911. Be sure to remove the battery if allowing children to play with the old phone. Also, it's important to note that calls to 911 must be made by calling and NOT TEXTING!

Throughout the month of April, 911 Telecommunicators will be visiting schools, daycares, and other organizations to share the importance of the 911 system. If you would like to schedule a presentation, contact the 911 public educators at the Effingham City Police at 217-347-0774 or at the Effingham County Sheriff's Department at 217-342-2101. For additional info or tips, check out the Effingham County 911's webpage at 911effinghamcounty.org. 

Pictured is the sheriff's department's telecommunicators. FRONT ROW, FROM LEFT: Kassandra Charters, Alysa Kilman, Chief Deputy Paul Kuhns, Communications Supervisor Tina Daniels, Sheriff David Mahon, Sheryl Vonderheide, Assistant Communications Supervisor Karen Hartke BACK ROW, FROM LEFT: Tracy Grunloh, Niki Hoffman, Pharabe Norman, Collin Gardner, Natasha Tegeler, Cody Hartke, Danielle Flowers, Gena Blair, Lisa Grzechowiak, Cindy Shepard, Billie Bales, Jane Lustig