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COLEBROOK DISPATCH CENTER
2012 ANNUAL REPORT
The year 2012 began as a very active year for the Colebrook Dispatch Center. Snowmobile accidents during the first three months of the year continued to keep our emergency responders very challenged. We’ve stated in previous years, this year being no different, they require the greatest amount of rescue coordination of almost any emergency call we receive. There are other emergencies that could be of greater magnitude but do not have the frequency of snow mobile rescues. The recognition our Fire Rescue, EMS, Fish and Game, UCVH and Air Rescue units DHART and Maine MED, received is well deserved. Their combined efforts minimize injuries and save lives in a recreational activity that is crucial to our Great North Woods.
Throughout the year, our dispatch center experienced an ever increasing use of the personal alarm monitor as a means of contacting emergency services. It is an extremely important life saving device that can be activated when the user has an emergency and is unable to get to a phone. The device is activated to a call center which immediately places a call back to the user’s residence to determine the nature of the emergency. In the event the user does not answer on call back, the call center notifies the responsible Emergency Dispatch Center for a response. Our dispatch center encourages users to use the 911 system for all emergencies when possible and to use the personal alarm monitor only in cases when you are unable to reach your phone safely. 911 provides additional medical support and verbal
contact with the caller until emergency providers reach them. Further, your land line phone is a directional link with the dispatch center providing them with an exact residence location within New Hampshire.
This year our dispatch center, as well as emergency responders, has appreciated the benefit of enhanced radio communication due to the additional repeater towers located in strategic areas throughout the North Country, (Magalloway Mt., Whitcomb Mt., Signal Mt. and Ben Young Hill). These four additional repeater towers were made possible by grant monies during 2010/2011 and have greatly benefited our communication abilities during remote wilderness rescues.
In closing, our dispatch center wishes everyone a healthy, safe and prosperous 2013.
Respectfully submitted,
Gary Dinco, Colebrook Dispatch Supervisor
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