Two weeks ago, I spent a couple of hours visiting the Webster County 911 Center. I’d always known that what they do was essential, but sitting in the room and listening to them take call after call, I saw it in a completely different way.

The dispatchers are the voices on the other end of 911 that remain cool. They’re speaking with folks on potentially the worst day of their lives, and they must remain alert, ask the correct questions, and keep rescue crews informed in real time. It’s high-pressure, multitasking at its finest, and relentless. And they do it all with professionalism and kind hearts.

When I asked what I could write about, the team said times when the Board voted in support of funding for equipment that makes their job more efficient and more accurate – equipment that saves lives. Great idea. Let’s go.

One such piece of equipment is Intellicomm. It’s a nationally-recognized program that takes the dispatchers step-by-step through the 911 calls (medical, fire, or police emergencies). It gives the specific questions relevant to each type of call they might handle. This enables the dispatcher to provide the caller with pre-arrival instructions so they can take the appropriate action and wait for help. It systematizes the process, especially for high-stress situations, and helps everybody – the caller making the call and the officers en route to the scene.

Another big enhancement is EMD, or Emergency Medical Dispatch. It’s part of the Intellicomm program, and it’s only for medical emergencies. Our dispatchers are certified in Emergency Medical Dispatching as well as CPR. Frequently, they might be walking a person through CPR, trying to control bleeding, or aiding with respiratory issues before the paramedics arrive. The questions they ask and the directions they give can truly be the difference between life and death. Shortly after my visit, one of the dispatchers walked a caller through the process of injecting an EpiPen.

And then there’s GeoComm Mapping. When a 911 call comes in, it identifies a caller’s location on a map. It’s extremely helpful when a person doesn’t know where they are – or they can’t tell. In the event a person is in a car accident, lost on a country road, or otherwise doesn’t know where they are, this technology can guide assistance directly to the person.

These are no-frills systems, but they’re reliable. And they’re one part of our continuous process for getting help, when it’s needed, as quickly and precisely as possible, to the residents and visitors of Webster County.

I want to extend a special thanks to the dispatchers for letting me sit in with them that Saturday morning. CJ, Trish, Ellise, as well as the rest of the team – what you do matters more than most appreciate.

All this to say that when you call 911 in Webster County, you’re in good hands.

Niki Conrad is chairwoman of the Webster County Board of Supervisors.