body
WHEREAS, on February 16, 1968, Senator Rankin Fite placed the first 9-1-1 call in Haleyville, Alabama, on a red rotary phone, and fifty years later, "9-1-1" has become the most recognized and authoritative number, even to children; and,
WHEREAS, the first recommendation for a nationwide emergency telephone number in the United States was made by the National Association of Fire Chiefs in 1957 and it wasn't until 1968 that 9-1-1 was established as the emergency code throughout the United States; and,
WHEREAS, prior to 1968, residents had to dial a 7-digit number for the nearest police station with no highly trained dispatcher answering who could talk you through a medical emergency or warn responders of a possible dangerous situation, but by 1999, the Public Safety Act was signed officially establishing 9-1-1 as the nation's emergency calling number; and,
WHEREAS, Tele communicators, or Dispatchers, have now become the first of the first responders, assisting citizens in their time of need while simultaneously dispatching appropriate resources, knowing that an improper response or delay may increase the risk and health of a loved one; and,
WHEREAS, Dispatchers work in a very stressful environment, keeping callers calm, while providing life-saving medical instructions, accurately documenting information, maintaining situational awareness, convey officer safety information, and sometimes coordinating multi-jurisdictional responses to major incidents, usually with no gauge of their success; and,
WHEREAS, by 2017, some jurisdictions in nearly all states offered text-to-911 messaging, which, in addition to serving the deaf and hard of hearing, has become an important alternative for victims of domestic violence and suicidal persons who are not comfortable talking to a person; and,
title
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend and appreciate the hard work of the 9-1-1 Dispatchers and commemor...
Click here for full text