At the Ulster County Office Building on Friday, Acting Ulster County Executive Johanna Contreras recognized Emergency Services dispatchers for exceptional skill and professionalism during a weekend of high stress calls where they provided life-saving measures, repeatedly. Numerous high stress calls from all over the county were handled by Emergency Services dispatch staff who coordinated expertly with local Emergency Medical Service, Law Enforcement and other first responders. Calls from New Paltz, Ellenville, Ulster and Shawangunk were highlighted by Acting County Executive Contreras as exceptional examples of the life-saving work of the Emergency Services team.
“Our Emergency Services dispatchers consistently go above and beyond to help our residents and save lives. I want to thank the whole Department of Emergency Services for their professionalism, skill and teamwork on behalf of the residents of Ulster County,” Acting Ulster County Executive Johanna Contreras said. “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.”
On the weekend of October 28-30, the Ulster County Public Safety Answer Point (911 Center) handled a total of 1,077 calls from all over 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 responding to two cardiac arrest calls, diverting a domestic dispute that could have ended in gun violence and talking parents through the safe delivery of their infant son. 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.
“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 said. “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.”
“Every day our team of dispatchers come to work ready to help the residents and visitors of Ulster County. When they answer a call, they do not know what is going to be on the other end of the line. Our team is highly capable of handling all types of emergencies, even the most serious, as exemplified this last Halloween weekend,” Deputy Director of Emergency Communications Andrew Cafaldo said. “I want to thank all of them for their continued hard work and dedication to getting our residents and visitors the appropriate responses from Emergency Services in their time of need.”
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