Emergency Dispatchers Learning New System, Still Getting Comfortable
By: Kristin Anderson
Updated: August 30, 2012
Kelly Wright has been working as an emergency dispatcher for the past five and a half years.
"I'm an adrenaline junkie," Kelly said. "I like the high stress, the chases, the wrecks and all that stuff. This job is just one of a kind. I couldn't see myself doing anything else."
And in the past month, she has had to learn the new emergency response system.
"I actually really like it," she said
Now, dispatchers ask a list of questions for every call. And Kelly says it's having that list that makes her feel like she's doing a better job responding to emergencies.
"It makes me feel a lot more confident in my job. Because it makes me feel a lot more sure of the kind of questions I'm asking. Makes me feel like i know something more than just asking random questions on the phone," Kelly explained.
In a month, many dispatchers feel they have learned the system. But it's getting comfortable with the new protocols that is still taking time.
"It does take us a little bit longer to process those medical calls because we're asking more appropriate questions so we can give as much information as possible to the responders," Wayne Brandt, APD communications manager said.
"It is different, yes. And it feels like it takes a lot more time, but once we get used to it, it really cuts down on the time for us and the callers," Kelly said.
With time, though, Kelly says it has gotten a lot better, and even a little less scary.
"I'm an adrenaline junkie," Kelly said. "I like the high stress, the chases, the wrecks and all that stuff. This job is just one of a kind. I couldn't see myself doing anything else."
And in the past month, she has had to learn the new emergency response system.
"I actually really like it," she said
Now, dispatchers ask a list of questions for every call. And Kelly says it's having that list that makes her feel like she's doing a better job responding to emergencies.
"It makes me feel a lot more confident in my job. Because it makes me feel a lot more sure of the kind of questions I'm asking. Makes me feel like i know something more than just asking random questions on the phone," Kelly explained.
In a month, many dispatchers feel they have learned the system. But it's getting comfortable with the new protocols that is still taking time.
"It does take us a little bit longer to process those medical calls because we're asking more appropriate questions so we can give as much information as possible to the responders," Wayne Brandt, APD communications manager said.
"It is different, yes. And it feels like it takes a lot more time, but once we get used to it, it really cuts down on the time for us and the callers," Kelly said.
With time, though, Kelly says it has gotten a lot better, and even a little less scary.
