Dane County Emergency Dispatcher Receives National Award

March 16, 2006
Lesley Sillaman, Office of the County Executive (608) 267-8823 or cell (608) 669-5606

Madison – Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk today announced that the National Academy of Emergency Dispatch (NAED), nationwide organization with over 33,000 members, has selected Tom Hanrahan, a Dane County Emergency Dispatcher, as the Emergency Dispatcher of the Year. “Congratulations to Tom for his outstanding work,” said Falk. “All our emergency dispatch personnel are everyday heroes and Tom’s actions exemplify this perfectly. Dane County has an excellent team of professional, dedicated emergency medical staff.” The Academy Selection Committee cited Hanrahan’s work on February 26, 2005, when he processed a call from a frantic mother whose nine-year old son was having diabetic problems and was unconscious. NAED was impressed with Hanrahan’s professional, calm and reassuring manner. NAED has invited Hanrahan (all expenses paid by NAED) to its Keynote Opening Session of the Navigator ’06 Conference on April 26, where he will receive his award. Hanrahan lives in Madison and has worked for the county’s Public Safety Communications Department since January, 1991, where he has recently been promoted from Communicator to Manager. All operations personnel in Public Safety Communications are NAED certified Emergency Medical Dispatchers and procesed over 33,000 EMS calls in 2005. # # #