April is National 9-1-1 Awareness Month, a time to recognize the crucial role of the 9-1-1 system in our communities. This month, and especially during National Public Safety Telecommunicator Week (April 13-19th), we extend our gratitude to the dedicated professionals who answer the call for help.
The three-digit telephone number “9-1-1” has been designated as the “Universal Emergency Number,” for citizens throughout the United States to request emergency assistance. It is intended as a nationwide telephone number and gives the public fast and easy access to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
In November 1967, the FCC met with the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) to find a means of establishing a universal emergency number that could be implemented quickly. In 1968, AT&T announced that it would establish the digits 9-1-1 (nine-one-one) as the emergency code throughout the United States.
Congress backed AT&T’s proposal and passed legislation allowing use of only the numbers 9-1-1 when creating a single emergency calling service, thereby making 9-1-1 a standard emergency number nationwide. On February 16, 1968, Senator Rankin Fite completed the first 9-1-1 call made in the United States in Haleyville, Alabama. The serving telephone company was then Alabama Telephone Company. This Haleyville 9-1-1 system is still in operation today.
At the end of the 20th century, 93% of the population of the United States was covered by some type of 9-1-1 service. Ninety-five percent of that coverage was Enhanced 9-1-1. Approximately 96% of the geographic US is covered by some type of 9-1-1.
Here in the Short Creek Valley, the first emergency telephone system had its beginning as a 7-digit number party line that rang into select volunteer’s homes and then to a small dispatch center at the fire station staffed by volunteers with a willingness to “just make it work”. The center, which is operated under the Colorado City Police Department, is now a state-of-the-art Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that dispatches agencies from Hildale, Colorado City, and Apple Valley. Soon, the center will also be providing dispatch services for Fredonia, Arizona. As the demand for service and the need for improved communications increased, the Town of Colorado City created space in the Town Hall and became the official PSAP for the area, working closely with the Arizona State 9-1-1 Division. Like many geographical regions across the nation, the 9-1-1 PSAP for Hildale/Colorado City is also funded through agency cooperation and IGA’s.
A dedicated Dispatch Center is a vital component in firefighter and police officer safety. The local Dispatch Center relates well to the citizens, has a strong knowledge of local addresses and surrounding wilderness, is trained in emergency medical pre-arrival instructions, firefighting operations, and police procedures.
What began as a staff of minimally trained volunteers has grown to a 24/7 fully staffed center which currently has 14 telecommunicators. Training for this profession is lengthy and requires maintaining multiple certifications to provide our communities with the best of emergency service.
