With the recent implementation of 9-8-8, 9-1-1 telecommunicators across the nation were thrust into one of the most important partnerships they will ever encounter and one that may change the face of crisis response for good. The passage of this act ultimately laid the groundwork for establishing a three-digit number that would be easy to remember and utilized by those suffering from mental health crisis emergencies.
Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) is the newest technology allowing the general public to share richer, more detailed data, such as videos, images, and text messages with a 9-1-1 call center. NG9-1-1 enhances the ability of 9-1-1 call centers to better communicate with each other and improves overall system resiliency, however, what are the adverse effects of this technology on our telecommunicators’ mental wellbeing?
Ricardo Martinez II, host and creator of the Within The Trenches podcast, discusses how Within the Trenches got started, how it’s grown since then, and what it means to emergency dispatchers to have a platform where they can share their stories and connect with their colleagues across continents.
For Your Information:
Listen to Within the Trenches here (or wherever you get your podcasts): https://www.withinthetrenches.net/podcast
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) regularly respond to lift assist calls. Previous studies have shown lift assist calls present a significant risk of morbidity and mortality. This group of callers is also likely to make repeated calls to 911 for EMS assistance. The ability to foresee which of these patients may need to call 911 again within 24 hours could help decrease the risk posed to patients in these situations. To describe calls originating as lift assist calls with repeat calls within 24 hours, explore the...
Empirical literature examining the health and wellness of emergency responders has continued to grow over the past decade. Yet there is a relative absence of literature on 911 telecommunicators, who are often the "first, first responders" in an emergency. Examination of work-related factors that enhance risk for stress and adverse outcomes may improve current prevention and intervention efforts in this population. Civilian 911 calltakers and dispatchers from the state of California (N = 833) participated in an online study to...
Emergency dispatch personnel play a crucial role in emergency response systems by serving as the initial point of contact during crises. The high-stress environment they operate in, coupled with the demanding nature of their responsibilities, raises concerns about their psychological well-being.
In 2019, of all of U.S. states/territories, only twelve require the Emergency Communications Officer (ECO) to meet hiring (character) standards, only twenty-nine require basic training standards, only twenty-three require continuing-education standards, and only twenty-four require use of pre-arrival medical instruction protocols. Furthermore, the federal government misclassifies the profession within its Office and Administrative Support occupational grouping, as opposed to the Protective Service occupational grouping. There is substantial evidence of 9-1-1 failures in...
