Lake County Gazette

The Vernon Hills Village Council recently discussed the importance of emergency communication in the community and also recognized National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

During the April 4 Village board meeting, officials discussed two types of emergency communication. The first topic was a proclamation of recognition for emergency telecommunicators at their local dispatch center who are responsible for answering emergency 911 calls from residents and dispatching police, fire and EMS in response. The village celebrated the week of April 9-15 as National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Trustee Thomas Kock read a proclamation, calling the dispatchers the most critical step in responding to emergencies and protecting the residents of the village and calling them a vital link between those in need of help and first responders.

"What I always think about is the variety and the stress level that they're sometimes facing in their role," Kock said in the meeting. "It just it can go from absolute boredom to sheer madness and insanity in seconds in that room. And it's particularly challenging when their only connection is electronically or telephonically and they can't reach out and touch someone and help them. They can only give them guidance. It's it's truly an art. We're lucky in Vernon Hills that our team of Vernon Hills and Countryside telecommunications are the best I've ever seen and service the community support and play a critical role in what the police and fire in this community do. Many times it's the only service that’s needed. Sometimes they're able to solve verse and problem without a police officer or firefighter even responding because the skill of the telecommunicator, they know how to put the person in touch. They really do serve a role of a counselor sometimes in listeners, but they deal with sheer madness sometimes. So we're lucky to have them."

Vernon Hills has multiple centers for dispatch and emergency telecommunication. The Countryside Fire Protection District has a colocation of their dispatch center with the Vernon Hills Police Department for better communication and support between the two agencies. The center provides service to Vernon Hills and Lincolnshire, as well as backup support for Lake Zurich and Mundelein. Workers have helped with providing quick control over house fires, life-saving medical support, and the apprehension of suspects.

The Village also took the opportunity to urge residents to sign up for the village-wide communication service known as Blackboard Connect. The platform is maintained by the Vernon Hills Police department and offered free of charge. Residents who sign up for the service will receive emergency communication by the electronic means of their choice including voice or text. The Village tests the system every so often and utilizes it to send out information and warnings for emergency events such as the tornadoes that occurred in the area recently.