Randolph County salutes its 911 dispatchers
As most people huddle at home - doing the right thing to protect themselves and others against the coronavirus - some people have no choice but to go to work.
Randolph County's 911 dispatchers are those kinds of people.
The Randolph County 911 Emergency Telephone Systems Board is recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 13-17.
The Board is asking residents to take a moment to thank your telecommunicators, "for their large contribution to public safety in Randolph County and beyond.
"Each telecommunicators steady voice is a lifeline to the 911 caller until help arrives," a news release says. "They serve a vital role between our communities, fire, medical and law enforcement agencies."
Randolph County has two independent, yet interconnected, call centers - in the basement of the Randolph County courthouse in Chester and in the Sparta Police Department.
911 Administrator Cindy Wagner said each center has two call positions, and altogether there are 15 dispatchers, most full-time and some part-time, who are handling emergency calls. As well, there are another 20-25 responders at MedStar Ambulance in Sparta, who get the immediate transfer of all medical-related calls that come into 911.
The courthouse and Sparta dispatchers are backups for each other, she explained.
"The Randolph County Emergency Telephone Systems Board would like to thank all telecommunicators for their support to public safety," the Board release adds.
"With every shift, every call answered, every radio communication, they are the vital link in maintaining the high level of safety to our communities."
Wagner said the dispatchers are following every CDC protocol to avoid the coronavirus, including having plenty of hand sanitizer nearby.
She added that there has not been a big spike in 911 calls over COVID-19, and for that she credits the work of the Randolph County Health Department, which has been publicizing correct procedure for people who think they may be sick with coronavirus.