April 11-17 has been designated National Public Safety Telecommunications Week to honor the thousands of public safety ­dispatchers who work behind the scenes to answer thousands of calls for help every day. Moore County residents and visitors are ­especially blessed with some of the best-trained telecommunicators to be found.

The Moore County 911 dispatchers are trained to national levels of emergency police/fire and medical dispatch. They are also trained on some of the best computer software available. This system allows the operators to locate your exact location and assist them in dispatching the closest public safety responders.

The 911 operators work 24/7, 365 days year. They work holidays, birthdays, beautiful days, bad weather days, every day. Sure we have great medical, police and fire personnel — you see them on the street doing their respective duties, but who do you think sends them to you?

The 911 telecommunicators are rarely seen. They are the voices who answer, “911, where is your emergency?” They are there when you call for help in the middle of the night.

They are, in effect, the first responders. They determine what kind of aid is needed and send help. Many times they instruct you on how to do CPR, render first-aid or even deliver a baby. They are the police officers’ lifeline when he or she is on patrol, and they can direct the fire units to the exact location of a fire or accident. They answer hundreds of questions about how to locate businesses and roads. They are 911 dispatchers, sheriff’s dispatchers and police department dispatchers.

Join me in remembering these dedicated professional men and women for their hard work. Thank you for all that you do every day.

George Gullickson

Aberdeen