DES MOINES – The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD) is joining national public safety leaders in recognizing April 2024 as National 911 Education Month to promote 911 awareness and proper usage.
The National 911 Education Month is a campaign to help Americans of all ages recognize the importance of calling or texting 911 and the role they play in ensuring effective and efficient emergency response in times of crisis. Groups including the United States Congress, the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), and the Association of Public-safety Communications Officials (APCO), have also recognized April as National 911 Education Month along with National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and are encouraging the media, the 911 community, the wireless industry, and public information providers to engage in 911 awareness and education activities this month.
“When calling 911, remember to stay calm, and be aware of your location so you can help Public Safety Telecommunicators locate you during an emergency,” said Blake DeRouchey, Iowa’s 911 program manager.
In addition to highlighting the importance of 911, HSEMD is recognizing Iowa’s dispatchers during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 14-20. “Iowa’s Public Safety Telecommunicators are ready to take a call on what may be the worst day of someone’s life,” said DeRouchey.
“Telecommunicators go through training that enables them to handle stressful calls on a daily basis. People often take 911 and Public Safety Telecommunicators for granted” DeRouchey added, “but they are always there and ready to provide callers the emergency response that is needed. Nights, weekends, and holidays, they are always on duty”
Finally, DeRouchey reminds Iowans that text to 911 is available statewide. “There may be times that a 911 call is not possible or advised if a situation is dangerous or requires a quiet outreach to 911. Text to 911 can also be helpful for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. Remember, call when you can, text if you can’t”
To learn more about how to use 911 in an emergency, visit the Ready Iowa website at www.ready.iowa.gov under the “Be Prepared” tab. NENA has also made a number of public safety educational resources for the media, 911 professionals, public educators, and citizens available via its National 911 Education Month webpage, https://www.nena.org/page/911_EducationMonth. You can learn more about Iowa’s 911 Program at homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/programs/911-program/.
You can also follow HSEMD on Facebook and Twitter @IowaHSEMD for 911 information all month long.
The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management leads, coordinates, and supports homeland security and emergency management functions to enhance the quality of life for Iowans by preparing our State and building resilient communities.