Area public safety communicators are being recognized by several emergency service providers.
April 9-15 is National Public Safety Communicators Week.
The North Bay Regional Health Centre says Ambulance Communications Officers (ACO) in our region receive more than 36,000 medical and fire calls a year for assistance.
Officials say in honour of the week Marc and Krista Tucker Petrick had the opportunity to meet and thank the ACO who helped save Marc’s life.
In September 2022, Krista called 911 when she woke up to her husband in cardiac distress with ACO Scott Levasseur answering the call
“Thanks to the amazing 911 operator on the other end of the line, I was able to do CPR for six minutes until [paramedics] could arrive,” Krista says. “Because of CPR, I kept his blood moving long enough for professionals to take over. Because of CPR, he came home.”
Two ACOs, Erin Lamont and Ian Wassink, were also presented with their first stork pins, which are awarded to North Bay Central Ambulance Communications Centre staff involved in a baby’s delivery.
Years of service pins were also presented to James Sutherland (5 years), Raymond King (15 years) and Marc Picard (25 years).
Jason Whiteley, Chief of North Bay Fire and Emergency Services, is also recognizing the “vital work” that 911 Emergency Communications Officers do every day.
“They make quick, high-stakes decisions that help protect the public. First responders and their essential work deserve celebrating,” he says.
City police honoured 911 call takers and dispatchers with a social media post stating the North Bay Police Service communications centre takes more than 22,000 911 calls a year.
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says Communications Operators at four centres, including North Bay, answered 2.22 million 911 and non-emergency calls for service last year.
Provincial police also say Communications Operators help to ensure that OPP officers are able to make it home safely at the end of their shift.
