• Home
  • About FFTB
    • The Mission
    • Start Here
    • Disclaimer
  • The Team
    • Contributors
    • Photo Contributors
    • Guest Contributors
    • The Original Crew
  • Contact
facebook
twitter
youtube
google_plus
email
  • Start Here
  • PODCAST
    • About The Podcast
    • Podcast Episode Pages
    • Podcast on iTunes
    • Podcast Official Sponsors
    • Podcast Sponsorship
  • 5 Min Clinics
    • 5 Minute Engine Co Clinic
    • 5 Minute Truck Co Clinic
    • 5 Minute Officer Clinic
    • 5 Minute Clinic Series
  • Product Reviews
  • Articles
    • Eng Co
    • Truck Co
    • Co Officer
    • Safety & FF Rescue
    • General
      • Social Media/ Public Relations
      • FF Communications
      • Art & Science of Firefighting
      • Life Skills
      • Hazardous Materials
      • Rescue Operations
      • Special Operations
        • Marine Operations
        • Airport Fire & Rescue Operations
  • Health & Fitness
  • FF Mindset
BREAKING NEWS
3 Rule Outs of the Medical Patient
“TOP 10” Fire Station Functional Fitness Training Equipment – Part 2
“TOP 10” Fire Station Functional Fitness Training Equipment – Part 1
Keys to Conducting Comprehensive Feedback to Firefighters
3 Keys to Truck Check Success
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 3
PWR Training Sandbag – Product Review
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 2
3 Ways Firefighters can Reduce the Chance of a Back Injury
The 3 Best Types of Workouts for Firefighters – Part 1
Practice How You Play
How to Execute the Proper Kettlebell Swing
What Every Firefighter Needs to Know About NFPA 1583
5 Exercises to Improve Grip Strength for Firefighters
6 Ways Firefighters can Use Exercise Progressions and Regressions
3 Workout Tips for the Volunteer Firefighter
074 – Introduction to Firefighter Functional Fitness
Firefighter Functional Fitness – 7 Tips for Planning Weekly Workouts
The 3 Cornerstones of Firefighter Fitness Success
8 Must-Do Exercises for Serious Firefighter Functional Fitness

The Dispatch Center – A Much Needed Field Trip

Posted On 14 Sep 2013
By : Allison Mosley
Comments: 4
Tag: communications, fire dispatch

Why do you need to tour your PSAP( Public Safety Answering Point) also know as your dispatch center?

You can never truly understand someone’s job unless you have had the chance to experience it first hand. Your fire department may have a program where people can do ride-a-longs for different reasons, but does your dispatch center offer the same? There is so much to learn from a one on one experience in the dispatch center and its information that could help you do your job better, but also keep you safe.

How do I schedule a visit?

The first thing to do is approach your officer about organizing a trip to the dispatch center. Once approval is squared away on the station side, the Chief or person in charge should contact the correct liaison at the dispatch center.

Schedule a time that doesn’t conflict with the dispatch schedule or operations, but will give you a high call volume or variety. Choosing to sit with a dispatcher on Tuesday morning at 0200 may not give you an ample opportunity to see them work.

Taking notes will help you retain the information you learned so that you can practice it in the field. Ask questions to further your understanding of dispatch and be ready to share your knowledge with the dispatcher too. Each profession should use a sit-a-long as an opportunity to see things from the other side for a change.

What might I learn?

Some important things you may review while sitting with a dispatcher are the policies that they follow and how they may be similar or sometimes even contradict your SOPS. You may be able to settle any misconceptions about the computer equipment or resources that are available in the center.

When responders know the type of technology the dispatch center has access to and what kind of information they can obtain they may be able to make requests that they wouldn’t have originally asked for (i.e. Language Line, Poison Control, large animal vet, bat handler, wireless phone GPS for incident location determination).

You can see and understand how a dispatcher multitasks by talking and typing at the same time. Sometimes they may handle more than one radio channel, answer a phone and radio at the same time, or make a notification via telephone while talking on the radio.

One of the best things you can take away from a visit to the center would be the rapport that you establish with your dispatchers. Although they aren’t the one behind you on the hand line or the one opening the roof with you they are there every step of the way. Dispatchers care about the people on the other side of the radio, and its our job to help you get home safe.

Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia/Pollo
https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil:An_emergency_dispatch_center_in_Finland.jpg

 

About the Author
Allison is the Acting Fire Dispatch Supervisor with over 7 years experience and has been associated with the fire service for over 9 years. Allison's experience as firefighter, EMT, call taker, dispatcher & fire ground operations channel dispatcher, provides her a rare depth of experience and perspective to share from. She has the perspective to share from experience dispatching the multiple alarm fires to radioing inside a dwelling fire through a face piece. Allison has the passion for making sure firefighters are best prepared to communicate over the radio for safety, for the lives of those that call upon them and for saving their own lives in a mayday situation.
Previous Story

Best Way to Wear Your Radio

Next Story

MAYDAY, MAYDAY, MAYDAY: What Your Dispatcher Needs to Know

Related Posts

Firefighter Toolbox Radio Communication
0

Firefighter Communications: What Did He Just Say?

Posted On 11 Feb 2016
, By Jack Dewan Jr.
0

Dispatcher Stress

Posted On 15 Feb 2014
, By Allison Mosley
Firefighter Portable Radio
6

Dispatch Operations – How to Eliminate Miscommunications

Posted On 07 Sep 2013
, By Allison Mosley
1

Tactical Ventilation – Understanding the Principle

Posted On 26 Apr 2013
, By Michael R. Rehfeld
8

Tactical Ventilation – What is It?

Posted On 07 Apr 2013
, By Michael R. Rehfeld

4 Comments

  1. Jake Chaney September 24, 2013 at 6:25 am

    I definitely agree you really can’t fully understand someone’s else’s job until you experience it first hand. Its very easy to assume you comprehend what goes on in someone else’s field especially when you work so closely with them. Also learning about all the resources communications has to offer would be very helpful not only to help us in the field to do our jobs better but to work together more efficiently along side of dispatch

  2. Allison Mosley October 31, 2013 at 4:03 am

    Thank you for your feedback, Jake! It’s important to remember that dispatchers and responders are a team, both sides need each other equally. Keep checking back with us for new articles every week!

  3. Mick Mayers December 27, 2013 at 11:18 pm

    Good article! I think a lot of public safety types need to sit on the other end sometimes and see what it is like, and vice-versa. It helps whenever we can see a situation from more than just our perspective!

  4. Allison Mosley December 28, 2013 at 4:13 am

    Thank you Mick! And you are absolutely right. Having some background knowledge will help all of us do our jobs better. If dispatchers get to do a ride-a-long with the department, there shouldn’t be any problem having responders do a sit-a-long with us! Thanks for your feedback!

Search Site

Archives

DOWNLOAD FREE REPORT

Popular Posts

FirefighterToolbox Podcast

FireFighterToolbox Podcast (Internet Radio Interview Show)

48 Comments

Top 6 Reasons To Use A 2-1/2" Handline

29 Comments

The Role Of The Second Due Engine - Part 2

18 Comments
Copyright 2013-2017 FirefighterToolbox.com All Rights Reserved.