Communicating With 911 Dispatchers
In a basic life support class, students are instructed to call 911 or the workplace emergency number in the event of an emergency. It is the job of the 911 dispatcher to evaluate and prioritize the call based on the information received. When talking to an emergency dispatcher it is not always easy to remain calm depending on the circumstances. However, it is important to try and be as clear as possible with regards to the emergency that you have so that the dispatcher can send the most appropriate resources. In many U.S. regions, 911 is a public access number for police, EMS, and the fire department. You would not want police to show up to you house if a family member is having chest pain.
As soon as you a dispatcher answers and asks you “do you have an emergency?” you need to affirm and make a very clear statement. Talking to a dispatcher could be looked at like doing an internet search. If you are looking for “apples” you would not type in “fruit”. In order to help the dispatcher prioritize the call, think of an exact match type of phrase. “I have a family member having chest pain.” Is much more clear then “I have a family member who is sick.”
Clarity helps the dispatcher determine the priority of the call quickly, which in turn will help the overall response time. In an emergency, time is critical. A basic first aid class can teach you how to effectively activate the EMS system and provide basic level care until help arrives.
October 14th, 2010 on 11:14 am
Calling from cell phones has gotten much better then in the past. You still want to try and give as much information as possible regarding your location BUT...the technology to know where you are at "exactly" is there...Big Brother is indeed watching us AND although such information is not fully public is exist just the same.