Two employees at Kent 911 center named Dispatchers of the Year

Two employees of the Valley Communications Center in Kent are being honored as King County Emergency Medical Dispatchers of the Year.

Two employees of the Valley Communications Center in Kent are being honored as King County Emergency Medical Dispatchers of the Year.

Meggin Harris, of Maple Valley, and Kit Danichek, of Renton, each work at  Valley Communications Center.

Harris received the honor for exemplary handling of a critical Emergency Medical Services incident, according to a Public Health of Seattle and King County media release. Harris responded to a man that called 911 reporting chest pain, which then progressed into cardiac arrest. Her calm and reassuring demeanor allowed the patient’s daughter to focus and follow her explicit instructions for CPR.

Danichek received the award for sustained exemplary performance throughout the year.

“When someone calls 911 for help, it’s the region’s emergency medical dispatchers that consistently provide information and care that’s needed,” said County Executive Dow Constantine. “They all deserve our thanks for their calm and steady service, and this year’s award winners deserve this special recognition.”

The two women will receive the awards ceremony Wednesday at the Valley Communications Center, 27519 108th Ave. S.E.

The awards recognize overall excellence and expert response to critical incidents and are given annually by Public Health – Seattle & King County’s Emergency Medical Services Division during National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, which is April 8-14 this year.

Valley Communications provides police, fire and medical dispatching in south King County, managing approximately 62,000 emergency medical calls in 2011.


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