St. Cloud, MN: In light of the recent public safety dispatchers study performed by the Northern Illinois University (NIU) and the timeliness of Telcommunicators Appreciation Week April 9-April 13, GeoComm wants to express appreciation to the efforts of our friends in the hot seat who are answering 9-1-1 calls and dispatching first responders. According to the National Emergency Number Association (NENA) public safety dispatchers answer an average of 240 million 9-1-1 calls each year in the United States.

During Telcommunicators Appreciation week, we recognize these dispatchers who know that the next call could truly be a life and death situation. Or those who just hung up from a call knowing it will change their life forever because of the circumstances of the emergency they were facilitating a response. Some of us have been in your shoes, some of us consider you dear friends; and we applaud you. A week dedicated to appreciating you is not enough. 24x7x365 you are ready to take a call from someone we love and that means more to us than any current or potential business relationship we might have. Thank you for your dedication to helping all us when the time of need comes for us or someone we love to dial 9-1-1.

“As a result of my 20 years in EMS, many of them spent in the field, believe me when I say that many of your collogues on the other end of the microphone know first-hand what a relief it is that a commensurate professional dispatcher is but a key away. Sometimes I think not even you know what an central role you play in helping protect the lives and property of your fellow citizens, a process that is not carried out without emotional and physical consequences on both sides of the mic,” Tom Grones, GeoComm President/CEO stated.

For more information on the recent study completed by NIU visit: http://www.niutoday.info/2012/03/29/niu-psychology-study-links-9-1-1-dispat chers-with-post-traumatic-stress-disorder-symptoms/

About GeoComm: GeoComm is a proven provider of end-to-end consulting and GIS systems tailored to meet the needs of any public safety agency. GeoComm is the leading innovator of NG9-1-1 GIS services and software, including NG9-1-1 GIS data assessment and development; software to maintain, manage, and provision GIS data; the ECRF/LVF elements of the ESInet; and tactical mapping for the PSAP. GeoComm’s GeoLynx Family of Products provides the tools necessary to speed and enhance emergency response. These tools reduce response times, improve data accuracy and quality, accelerate communications, and provide mission critical GIS-based decision support. www.geo-comm.com