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“911 Emergency – Are Operators Ready for Your Call?” This was the Headline of the NBC Today’s Show aired on television January 7, 2009.
The show identified how many states around the country do not have standards for 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers. Eighteen states do not have training standards for 9-1-1 Operators; Oregon is not one of them.
The State of Oregon does require certification and standardized training for 9-1-1 Operators. In fact, Oregon was one of the first states in the Country to have a standardized training program.
North Marion County Communications Center [NORCOM] is the local 9-1-1 Center for approximately 74,000 residents and 480 square miles of Northern Marion and South Eastern Clackamas County. NORCOM is located in Woodburn. All 9-1-1 Operators and Dispatchers at NORCOM are trained in both CPR and First Aid though either the American Heart Association or the American Red Cross.
Upon being hired by NORCOM, the 9-1-1 Operators must complete an extensive criminal background investigation to include a psychological examination. The 9-1-1 Operators are then required to successfully complete a two-week academy at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training facility located in Salem and required to complete a 20-week “In House Training Program” facilitated by a State Certified Trainer at NORCOM. In addition to the academy training, all 9-1-1 Operators must attend a three-day certification class on how to provide pre-arrival medical instructions to callers over the telephone [provide CPR, Choking Instructions, Child Birth Instructions and other Medical First Aid].
The State of Oregon requires that all 9-1-1 Operators maintain their current certification in both CPR and First Aid, receive ongoing annual training in Medical Pre-Arrival Instructions and an additional 16 hours of 9-1-1 Operator career related training throughout each year. NORCOM 9-1-1 Operators and Dispatchers complete an average of 40 hours of additional training each year to enhance their skills and maintain their certification.
The NBC Today’s Show profiled areas of the country that are not as fortunate as the State of Oregon. Your local 9-1-1 Center is not flawed and we do have adequate staffing to support our community. We strive for excellence in our organization.
In October of 2009 four of the NORCOM 9-1-1 Operators were recognized for their outstanding professional service they provided to the community and received top honors at the Oregon Association of Public Safety Conference for their efforts in saving lives in our community and upholding their training standards.
The Mission of North Marion County Communication Center is to provide quality service to the community and the agencies we support, without bias, through consistency, professionalism, comprehensive knowledge and ability.
The North Marion County Communication Center receives approximately 22% of our funding from the State 9-1-1 Tax Revenue Source [.75 cents from your phones] and the remaining 78% of our support comes from partnership agreements with local police departments, fire districts and private ambulance companies. The Agency processed 93,254 calls for service in 2009.
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