Ulster honors emergency service dispatchers
Acting Ulster County Executive Johanna Contreras on Friday recognized Emergency Services dispatchers for exceptional skill and professionalism during a weekend of high-stress calls where they provided life-saving measures.
According to a press release issued Monday, between Oct. 28-30, the Ulster County 911 center handled a total of 1,077 calls from throughout the county.
Supervisor Michael Davis, Acting Supervisor Brad Fiore, Dispatcher Kathy Smith, Dispatcher Vickie Quent, Dispatcher Madison McDermott and Dispatcher Nicholas Secreto received numerous high-stress calls that were very serious in nature, including two cardiac arrest calls, a domes
tic dispute that could have ended in gun violence and talking parents through the safe delivery of their infant son, the release stated.
Because of the immediate actions of the dispatch team, who initiated CPR, provided crisis intervention and delivered instructions on childbirth over the phone while simultaneously dispatching Emergency Medical Service, Law Enforcement and other first responders to the scene, lives were saved, according to the release.
“Our Emergency Services dispatchers consistently go above and beyond to help our residents and save lives,” Contreras said in the release.
“Often, this critical work stays behind the scenes, so it is important to highlight the accomplishments of our skilled and dedicated team. It is my true honor and privilege to recognize these 911 dispatchers for their tireless public service and critical work,” she added.
“The dispatchers of the Ulster County Department of Emergency Services, Division of Emergency Communications (911), are a group of knowledgeable and highly skilled emergency services dispatchers that have a solid foundation of professionalism and excellent customer service, allowing us to provide a service of the highest level of excellence,” Director of Emergency Services Everett Erichsen stated in the release. “They are the lifeline between those having an emergency and their first responder colleagues in the field, and are a crucial part of public safety. I thank them for their consistent hard work.”
“Our team is highly capable of handling all types of emergencies, even the most serious, as exemplified this last Halloween weekend,” added Deputy Director of Emergency Communications Andrew Cafaldo in the release.