National 9-1-1 Education Month and National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is April 12-18

The City of Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications (OEMC) is celebrating National 9-1-1 Education Month to honor the outstanding contributions of the City's 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers. Additionally, OEMC will celebrate National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, April 12-18 and will hold the annual employee Awards Ceremony on April 16.

During April, OEMC highlights the public safety role our personnel perform every day, 24/7 for the well-being of Chicagoans. Whether it's providing lifesaving CPR instructions, texting crime victims who are unable to talk to provide first responders with needed details, or coordinating public safety and traffic for large events, OEMC works behind the scenes to ensure the safety of Chicago residents and visitors.

"I'm extremely proud to recognize the extraordinary dedication of the men and women at OEMC for the challenging jobs they carry out every day protecting Chicagoans and first responders," said Frank Velez, OEMC Executive Director. "OEMC employees are the driving force behind public safety in Chicago as they perform their critical roles for the safety and well-being of our residents.

9-1-1 Education Month - Tips for calling 9-1-1

OEMC reminds Chicagoans to be aware of their surroundings and to report suspicious activity. If you notice something suspicious call 9-1-1. If You See Something, Say Something™ is a national anti-terrorism public awareness campaign that emphasizes the importance of reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities. When calling 9-1-1, you should always remember the 5 W's:

1. What's happening or what type of service do you need?
2. Where is your location? Be as specific as possible and provide an exact address, intersection or provide a landmark.
3. Who are the offenders, can you provide a description? Are you the victim or someone else?
4. When did the event occur or is it happening now?
5. Weapons - are there weapons involved and what is it? A gun, knife, bat, brick, etc.

Smart 911 Safety Profile

In an emergency, seconds count and OEMC urges residents to create a Smart911 profile. The free and secure service allows individuals and families to sign up online, with the Smart911 app or the Chicago OEMC App. By filling out a safety profile for you and your household, residents can provide critical information to 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers during an emergency. Smart911 safety profiles can include pertinent information that can help first responders provide a more personalized response, such as:

• Emergency contact information
• Medical history, including medications and medical conditions.
• Home or apartment layouts, access points and utility information
• Number of people and pets in your home
• Provide automobile information for first responders in the event of an accident or stolen vehicle.
• Residents can opt in to share their home surveillance camera footage with the Chicago Police Department in the event that a crime occurs at their residence or neighborhood.

All Smart911 profiles are private. Your profile will only appear to the call taker for the duration of a 9-1-1 call. To join the Smart911 community to protect the ones you love, residents can create a free safety profile by visiting Smart911.com or by downloading the Smart911 App. For additional information, click Chicago.gov/OEMC.

OEMC Employee Awards and Special Recognition

During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, OEMC will celebrate newly graduated 9-1-1 call takers and dispatchers, Emergency Managers, 3-1-1 Operators and Traffic Management Authority staff who have gone above and beyond in carrying out their duties to keep residents safe at an awards ceremony on Thursday, April 16, 8-10 a.m.

Commendations, Awards of Merit and Team Performance and Other Award Highlights

Multiple OEMC 9-1-1 call takers, dispatchers, emergency managers and other staff members will be receiving individual and team awards of commendation, merit and honorable mentions for their professionalism and life-saving actions. Examples include the following:

• Multiple teams of call takers and dispatchers worked together to assist on-scene first responders from the Chicago Police Department and Chicago Fire Department.
• Dispatchers working in the Operations Center alongside the Chicago Police Department's Vehicular Hijacking Task Force to provide vital information to responding units in the field to apprehend individuals committing crimes.

Chicago OEMC App

Residents are encouraged to download the Chicago OEMC App as a public safety tool providing alerts, weather reports and radar, preparedness tips, see street closures for events and even share your location with a friend through CHI Safe Walk. The app is available through the Apple App and Google Play stores. To immediately download, click HERE or visit the website Chicago.gov/OEMC.

For additional information on emergency preparedness, we encourage residents to download the Chicago OEMC app, visit the OEMC website at Chicago.gov/OEMC. Follow the Office of Emergency Management and Communications on Facebook(@coemc), Twitter (@ChicagoOEMC), Instagram (chicago_oemc_911), Bluesky (@chicagooemc.bsky.social) and Threads (@chicago_oemc_911). using the hashtags #ChicagoOEMC #ThankYou911 #Smart911 #Chicago911 #BeSafeChicago.