Stratford Public Safety Communications Center
9-1-1 (Emergency Calls Only)
(203) 385-4100 (Routine calls)
For general inquiries, complaints or other non-emergency information about the communications center, please contact:
Superintendant: JP Sredzinski: (203) 381-2087 | jsredzinski@townofstratford.com
Supervisor: Heather Admans: (203) 381-2087 | hadmans@townofstratford.com
Stratford Public Safety Dispatcher providing Emergency Medical Dispatch
The Stratford Public Safety Communications Center (SPSCC) is a Police, EMS and Fire dispatch center providing state-of-the-art equipment and facilities to answer emergency 9-1-1 calls. The center is staffed by 4 dispatchers, 24 hours a day. The center has six (6) positions total. Dispatchers are trained Connecticut Public Safety Telecommunicators and National Emergency Law, Fire and Medical Dispatchers through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED).
The Stratford Public Safety Communications Center is the primary PSAP for the Town of Stratford. They are responsible for manning the E911 center and dispatching police, EMS and/or fire units to over 40,000 calls per year. They process over 128,000 inbound and outbound phone calls per year (350 per day). With all of that, they are also required to perform numerous tasks due to the 24/7/365 nature of their operation. This includes but is not limited to: performing law enforcement database checks, performing emergency medical dispatch per state of CT statute, monitoring field assets at emergency scenes like structure fires, administrative notifications and even weather station monitoring. Further the center plays an active role in the Towns EOC operations.
Dialing 9-1-1 from a landline telephone in Stratford will automatically connect you with the Stratford Public Safety Communications Center (SPSCC). While in many cases the dispatcher will be able to see the location you are calling from on their computer screen, it is very important that you answer ALL of their questions regarding your location and callback number to ensure the information is correct and they are sending help to the right place. If you are calling from a mobile phone, it’s is even more important that you are clear about your exact location.
The SPSCC dispatcher will immediately dispatch the closest, most appropriate public safety responders to your location. In medical emergencies, this may be a combination of Fire Department personnel and EMS. When necessary, the Police Department may respond also. At the same time, a dispatcher trained in Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) procedures will obtain additional information about the nature of your emergency and will provide instructions on what to do until help arrives. It is important to understand that is not delaying the dispatch of responders.
DON’T HANG UP THE PHONE! The 9-1-1 dispatcher can help you! SPSCC dispatchers are trained medical professionals who can guide you on how to provide basic first aid while the ambulance is enroute to your location. Staying on the phone and answering all of the dispatcher’s important questions will NOT delay response – emergency help is already on the way. While the responders are on their way, the SPSCC dispatcher is also relaying important information that they have gathered from speaking to you, to the responders so that when they arrive, they are already informed and prepared to assist you in the most efficient manner.
The dispatch center also has information on the location of most Automated External Defibrillators (AED) throughout the town. They can assist you in locating one and guide you in it’s use.
The Stratford Fire Department are trained in basic CPR and equipped with Automated External Defibrillators (AED). They may arrive on scene first or at the same time as the ambulance. The Stratford Fire Department first responders, are an integral part of the Emergency Medical Service team in Stratford.
Once, Stratford’s ambulance (and the paramedic fly car, if dispatched) arrive, they will assume control of patient care and transport to the hospital. SPSCC, SEMS, SFD and SPD work together to ensure our patients receive rapid response and state of the art emergency medical care 24 hours a day each and every day of the year.
How can you Help?
Most people know to call 9-1-1 in an emergency, but few know what to expect once they call!
When calling 9-1-1 for a police, fire, or medical emergency follow these simple steps to ensure help is sent to the correct location as quickly as possible:
- Stay calm
- Speak clearly and slowly
- Provide your location as this is essential to a quick response
- Provide your phone number so that the dispatcher will be able to call you back in the event you are disconnected
- All of the dispatchers questions are important, Answer all of the dispatchers questions
- Follow directions given by the dispatcher who may ask you to provide you instructions and guide you to provide care until help arrives
- Stay on the phone until the dispatcher says it is OK to hang up
We can’t help you if we can’t find you!
To help the ambulance respond quickly, please make sure your street side mailbox is properly labeled with reflective numbers that can be seen from both sides of the street. Your residence should be similarly labeled on or near the front door.
An easily noted address reduces the possibility of the ambulance driving past your location and having to turn around.
If possible, ask a family member or neighbor to safely secure your pets in another room so they can’t interfere with emergency responders. Also, station someone outside the front door to help flag down the ambulance. During an emergency, turn on your exterior lights (no matter what time of day) to draw attention to your location.
Important Checklist
Keep the following information easily accessible for all members of the household:
- Name
- Date of birth
- Home address
- Medical conditions
- Allergies
- Medications taken regularly (with dosages)
- Doctors name
- Emergency contacts
You can print our your own “Vial of Life” here (Vial of Life Form
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