BOISE, Idaho — When you call, they answer and help.
From April 14-20, the days are known as the National Public Safety Telecommunications Week. Otherwise known as a time to honor 911 Dispatchers.
Their days are often long, and different every minute.
Even though dispatchers are behind the scenes, they are the initial first responder when a 911 call comes in. They're delegating incident response and deciding what to do in a variety of highly stressful situations.
Just last week, one Ada County dispatcher walked a couple through delivering their baby at home, because they weren't going to make it to the hospital in time, Zachary Walls, Captain of the Dispatch Center for Ada County Sheriff's Office told KTVB.
"The variety of calls that they take, really does take a toll on them, and just, can be stressful, bouncing between those emotions. You might finish that CPR call and move right back into another call that's my neighbors playing loud music," he said.
Ada County Dispatcher, Cerstin Koenig picked up the phone when a hanger collapsed in Boise in February.
"I immediately got the fire department started, although police happened to already be on scene," she told KTVB. "So, we have a multitude of channels working on the radio where someone's handling the police interactions. I handled all the fire department interactions, making sure we could get everyone out of the collapsed structure."
But often time, dispatchers won't know what happens after that, she said.
"Sometimes you start a book and never end it," Koenig said.
The dispatchers at ACSO lean on each other after tough days.
Ada County Dispatcher, Mark Lazzarini said the team is one big family when it comes to support.
"It's fun to come here and work," Lazzarini said. "Even though we might be handling something that is tragic, were here to support each other. And, we really get along that way."
To celebrate their work, each year the dispatchers at ACSO decorate the dispatch center. Last year was Wizard of Oz theme, this year the center was converted into a circus.
Captain Walls said one minute dispatchers are playing a juggling act. Then they're a trapeze artist when they are on calls, attempting to balance between staying calm or choosing their words carefully.
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