We’ve all seen the stories on the news: a 911 dispatcher helps a woman deliver a baby over the phone, a 911 dispatcher helps a father revive his infant daughter, a 911 dispatcher tells a dog owner how to save a choking pet, a 911 dispatcher instructs a woman as to how to stop her runaway car, and the list goes on. We’ve seen the stories, but rarely do we meet the people behind the scenes of our emergencies.

This week, unbeknownst to many, is National Telecommunicator Week, established in 1991 by the U.S. Congress to honor those who are the literal first-responders to any police, fire or medical emergency. These men and women serve the public in invaluable ways by sending ambulances, firefighters, police officers, sheriff’s deputies and highway-patrol officers to emergencies across the county.

At the Beaufort County 911 Communications Center, which provides 24-hour service, 10 dispatchers work tirelessly to coordinate all emergency personnel in emergency and nonemergency situations.

Do you know any of them?

If you do, take a moment to thank them for their commitment to ensuring the safety of our families, our friends, our neighbors and ourselves.