HCFA Celebrates NPSTW

The team at Heartland Communications had a lot of fun this year celebrating National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week (NPSTW). Every year during the second week of April, the telecommunications personnel in the public safety community, are honored. This week-long event, initially set up in 1981 by Patricia Anderson of the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office in California, is a time to celebrate and thank those who dedicate their lives to serving the public. It is a week that should be set aside so everyone can be made aware of their hard work and dedication.

Like past years, this week was filled with fun, food, awards and appreciation for our hard working telecommunicators. This years theme was “HCFA Homecoming”. The dispatch center was decorated like your high school would have been for Homecoming. Senior pictures of staff, and some chiefs hung in the hall. And of course, there was themed dress up days:

• Sunday – Little White Lies T-Shirt

• Monday – Pajama Day / Croc’s & Socks

• Tuesday – Band T-Shirts

• Wednesday – ECC Formal (Yes, Formal Attire Day…Lets Get Fancy!)

• Thursday – Wear a Wig

• Friday – Friday Night Lights

• Saturday – Goodwill Day (all clothing worn, purchased from Goodwill)

Throughout the week, staff from the Fire Agencies HCFA dispatches for brought in meals for the staff on duty to show their appreciation. There were games and contest for the dispatchers to compete in throughout the week. There was a raffle for to give the staff chance to win raffle basket prizes. The staff Outreach Working Group also collected pet donation items and delivering them to County of San Diego Department of Animal Services in Bonita.

This week is also the time of the year that HCFA announces their Dispatcher of the Year and Top EMD Performer of the Year Awards. This years recipient were Nicole Gibson and Hannah Caldwell.