Published Apr 2022 by 911.GOV

National Telecommunicators Week (beginning the 2nd Monday of April annually) began in 1981 and ever since then major public safety organizations, including the NG9-1-1 Institute, have been celebrating our nation’s telecommunicators—the public safety community’s first first responders. The gatekeepers to the 911 system who skillfully and compassionately support 911 callers while simultaneously sending emergency responders to their aid. Those who protect the lives of both the callers and the responders by providing critical information for situational awareness.

The job is already challenging by nature but has been particularly so as communities have faced an ongoing pandemic, an unprecedented number of natural disasters, and civil unrest. Navigating these obstacles in addition to the regular challenges of the telecommunicator role make it even more important to celebrate National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

The 911 community encourages you to recognize a deserving 911 telecommunicator by adding a “leaf” to the 911 Telecommunicator Tree of Life:

1) https://911treeoflife.org 2) select "Add a Leaf"

Here are efforts and resources supported by the National 911 Program that have been developed to honor the telecommunicator community’s hard work:

• “NG911 for Telecommunicators” is a 911 Program publication written from the telecommunicator’s perspective to help you understand Next Generation 911 (NG911). It describes how NG911 will change the 911 system, what to expect, and how you can get involved with the updates.

• An article discussing the prioritization of telecommunicators’ physical and mental health is also included in “NG911 for Telecommunicators.” The piece provides guidance on how 911 professionals and ECCs/PSAPs can improve their self-care practices.

• Resources that can be used by ECCs/PSAPs to make progress toward reclassification . Reclassifying telecommunicators to the “protective service occupation” would provide them with acknowledgment of the role of responder. While the 911 Program, as a federal agency, cannot lobby to support this effort, it continues to collaborate with federal partners and provide resources to help the 911 community advocate for the profession.

• The “911 Telecommunicator Tree of Life” is a joint effort between the National 911 Program and a number of 911 industry organizations to honor and celebrate the individuals who serve each day. Visit the 911 Telecommunicator Tree of Life to share an inspiring story recognizing a telecommunicator you know.

The organizations below also support Public Safety Telecommunicators and the 911 Telecommunicator Tree of Life:

911der Women 

Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Visit Emergency Communications Month and National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) IAED’s article “911 Tree of Life Tapestry” was featured on the Journal of Emergency Dispatch magazine website and will be the focus of an episode for the Dispatch in Depth podcast.

National Association of State 911 Administrators (NASNA) NASNA information on the Know911.org website.

National Emergency Number Association (NENA) NENA follow on Facebook and Twitter social media channels.

Marine Corps Installations Command (MCICOM) Has a promotional toolkit on Ready Marine Corps.

U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) DoD 

To learn more about this year’s National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, visit https://www.npstw.org 

and the organizations listed above.