04/15/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/15/2024 12:44
Winnipeg, MB - The City of Winnipeg is celebrating the important work of the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS) and Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service (WFPS) 9-1-1 call takers, dispatchers and supervisors during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 14-20, 2024. National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week recognizes all emergency telecommunications personnel for the imperative role they play in keeping residents and first responders safe.
"Citizens call 9-1-1 when in crisis and in need of emergency help. This is often the worst time in people's lives," said Winnipeg Police Chief, Danny Smyth. We are fortunate to have a team of empathetic professionals who are able to connect citizens with the emergency services they require."
"Our community counts on our 9-1-1 call takers to be there in their time of need," said Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Chief, Christian Schmidt. "The work they do as FIRST, first responders is so important - from coaching someone through CPR, to helping deliver a baby over the phone, or dispatching the nearest paramedic or firefighter unit to ensure help gets there as quickly as possible. They save lives and keep our residents and first responders safe every day."
In times of intense personal crises and emergencies within the community, WPS and WFPS 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers are the public's first point of contact for reaching all levels of emergency assistance, including police, fire and ambulance. The City employs approximately 174 WPS and WFPS 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers. In 2023, the City's emergency telecommunications team answered over one million calls from residents.
In Winnipeg, all incoming 9-1-1 calls are received by a WPS 9-1-1 call taker who will request the location and the nature of the emergency. If the caller requires help from police, the 9-1-1 Call Taker will take the call. If it's a medical or fire emergency, the call gets triaged to the WFPS Communications Centre.
How you can help when contacting 9-1-1
The WPS and WFPS telecommunicators remind the public of a few tips when making 9-1-1 emergency calls:
It is very important citizens only call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
Examples of when to call 9-1-1 include:
Should you require non-urgent police, fire or paramedic assistance, the following phone numbers may be helpful alternatives to calling 9-1-1:
For additional information visit Winnipeg Police Service - Reporting Emergencies.
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