VDEM Celebrates National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week

RICHMOND – The Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) is pleased to honor telecommunicators across the commonwealth beginning Sunday, April 9, 2023. National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW), observed every second week in April, has been set aside to recognize and celebrate the work of telecommunicators, who are the first and most critical link between the public and emergency services.

In 2022, emergency communications professionals answered approximately 4.35 million 9-1-1 calls in Virginia, often providing life-saving instructions to callers before responding units arrive on scene.

VDEM would like to specifically recognize our Situational Awareness Unit telecommunicators who assist in coordinating state resources to aid localities during public safety emergencies. We encourage everyone to spend this week honoring and thanking those who serve in this demanding profession.

Governor Glenn Youngkin’s proclamation recognizing NPSTW: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/proclamations/proclamation-list/national-public-safety-telecommunicators-week-1.html. 

For more on the history of NPSTW, please visit https://www.npstw.org/npstw-the-backstory/. 

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For more information, please contact us at PIO@vdem.virginia.gov