This week is the time to pay tribute to the work of public safety communications professionals.

April 8 through April 14 has been recognized as Virginia Public Safety Telecommunicator’s Week by Gov. Bob McDonnell.

This week U.S. Congressman Frank Wolf (R-10th) and the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office joined local, state and national public safety agencies to honor telecommunicators’ work.

“The Emergency Communication personnel in our community play a crucial role in public safety, and are our first-line intake to handling emergency situations,” Wolf said in a release. “Emergency Communications professionals assume a daily, critical role in gathering essential information, assessing urgency and delivering information quickly and accurately which can mean the difference in a life or death situation.”

Thousands of Americans dial 9-1-1 for help each day in life-threatening emergencies.

“Loudoun’s public safety relies on the emergency communications professionals and their team to serve as the direct link between residents and first responders,” said Loudoun County Sheriff Michael L. Chapman said in a release. “Every day, Loudoun County Emergency Communication personnel handle vital information in a professional and timely manner. I’m pleased with this team of dedicated personnel and congratulate them on their important work,” added Chapman.

National Public Safety Telecommunications Week was first conceived in 1981 by a member of the APCO International’s Northern California Chapter. APCO introduced the week to Congress in October 1991. It was introduced twice, according to congressional procedure, once in 1993 and again in 1994, before becoming permanent.