It's National Dispatcher's Week! Hug a Dispatcher :) #ndw

Dispatchers are always heard, never seen. They're hard workers and the unsung heroes of police, fire, and first responders. If you have an opportunity, tour a PSAP (Public Safety Answering Point) where dispatchers work, offer them a hung, or just say "thank you." It means a lot.

Surprisingly, 911 is only 46 years old. Bob Fitzgerald first implemented it in 1968 in Haleyville, Alabama. Since then, it took until about the mid 1980's for the system to be implemented nationwide.

Patricia Anderson out of Contra Costa County, CA, Sheriff's Dept. in 1982, conceived national Dispatchers week. In 1991, Congress first declared National Dispatcher and President George H.W. Bush signed the first proclamation.

For the most part, I enjoy being a dispatcher and assisting people get the help they need. Dispatchers are staffed 24/7 and I've worked all watches. That can take a lot out of you physically (especially your sleep) and mentally. I've heard all kinds of calls, so I thought I'd share a few with you:

NOTE: Before you call 911, keep this mind: does my issue warrant a 911 call and a police response? Remember 911 is for emergencies, not your loud party.

Drumroll please….

Don't call the police if you want a refund from your drug dealer. (yes, I've gotten several calls like this)

Don't call if you're lonely.

Don't call to complain about your parents (not letting you leave the house) or on your kids 12 and under who are refusing to listen to you.

Don't call to say you locked yourself in your car.

Don't call to complain about your fast food order, sandwich, nuggets, or coffee. Instead complain to the company's district manager, cooperate headquarters, or better business bureau.

I found a great dispatcher's board on Pinterest I thought I'd share: Dispatcher's Rule the World.

http://www.pinterest.com/dawn911/dispatchers-rule-the-world/

Have a good chuckle over some of the things people call 911 for, but if you have a chance, thank a dispatcher this week, offer them a hung, or send your nearest dispatch center a card. It means a lot.

Question for you: Have you ever called 911?

Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She's also a published author with Desert Breeze Publishing, 4RV Publishing, and Victory Tales Press. She enjoys chocolate, adores coffee and likes taking long walks. Currently, she's signed up to Walk for Alzheimer's on 20 SEP in Santa Clarita, CA. If you'd like to donate visit http://act.alz.org/site/TR/Walk2014/CA-CaliforniaSouthland?team_id=204372&pg=team&fr_id=4950

DARK SHADOW: Set in the distant future, can Helios save the Borealis from a deadly biological weapon or will Vivian get in his way?

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT:

Helios drew close. Impulse took over. His lips skirted hers. His warm breath and spicy scent made her feel protected. Vivian leaned against him. Her lips brushed against his. He tasted of honey and berries -- and chocolate. The seductive sample he offered fueled her body, urging her to savor and enjoy.

She placed her palms flat against his muscled chest and her heart skipped a beat. She never felt so safe, so wanted.

Then reality struck. This was only a moment. She wasn't TPP or a rebel. Her home was here with Sally and Korn. Adonis sounded like he wanted more than she could offer, and Benares was not going to ruin her life again.

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Celebrate National Dispatcher Week this week: 14-20 APR 2013

Me at work, holding my children's book

It's National Dispatcher's Week. Hug a dispatcher if you have a chance. J All right, the unknown voice on the line wouldn't mind a letter or a simple "thank you," either.

I'm a 911 dispatcher for LAPD and it's a job I find personally rewarding. Being a 911 dispatcher, I know I'm the first 1^st responder to the problem. I've got to get the information quickly and accurately to send the help you need. Sometime it's not so easy.

In 1991, President George H.W. Bush signed the first bill declaring  the 2^nd week in April "National Telecommunicators (dispatcher) week. This week in LA we're opening up the doors at our downtown dispatch center and inviting the public in to learn what it's like to be a dispatcher. 

911 is intended for emergencies, specifically for police, fire, and paramedic dispatch. It's not for a caller to ask for the time, pranks (we get these a lot from pay phones at high schools when they let out for the day) weather checks, ordering a pizza, complaining about heavy traffic, or even complaining about your hamburger not being cooked the way you like it. Trust me, I've heard all of these and then some. My favorite? Answering the phone with: "911 Emergency, Operator 806" and the next thing I hear is a flushing toilet.

So how did 911 come about?

In the US, about 42 years ago, but the concept has been around much longer than that and there's no simple answer. In the UK, they started using "999" as a National Emergency number in 1937. Canada began using an emergency number in 1959. It started off as "999" but switched to "911" when the US went to "911."

 

My son, Joe, at the dispatcher center w/Dana 

In the US, prior to the 1950's, one had to dial an operator to place a call so if you had an emergency, the operator would patch you through. Then rotary phones with dial tone were introduced. In 1957, a presidential commission recommended creating a single emergency number. The FCC worked with AT&T and 911 was born. On Feb 16, 1968, the first 911 call was made.

Question: Who answers a 911 call?

Answer: Dispatchers work at a Public Safety Answering Point (known as a PSAP). Once we identify the problem, we direct the call to the appropriate resource: police, fire or paramedics.

Question: When I call 911, do you get my location?

Answer:  Most of the time, but that's not an easy question to answer.  Consider this:

If you're calling from a landline phone, 99% of the time, the dispatcher will your location accurately. This comes from a "trunk" line established between your phone company and the PSAP.

However if you have VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) you could be calling in Scotland and get LAPD 911.  How is that possible? The connection with the PSAP isn't being made with a trunk line, but a broadband Internet line, and that line can originate ANYWHERE.  The Internet doesn't dedicate lines to go to your local PSAP.

Now, say you have a CELL PHONE – when you call on a cell phone I get either the nearest cell phone tower the cell phone is using, or a location within 500 meters of the phone. I don't get your actual location.

That's why it's so important for me as a 911 dispatcher to get the location of the emergency VERBALLY from the caller.

Question: Can I send a text to 911?

Answer: Right now, no, but currently, that is something the phone companies are working on and it might be possible in the future.

Question: Can I call 911 from a disconnected phone?

 

Julia Cesena, Supervisor of the Year, CPRA 2013

Answer: Yes. In the US and Canada a disconnected phone will dial 911. (But it won't give location information)  (As long as that phone has power, it will call 911 only, no power, no call)

Question: How is 911 funded?

Answer: Depending on your location, cities and counties may charge a fee in addition to federal fees. These fees vary and are listed on your phone bill you get from the phone company.  My fee for my landline bill is $10.00 a month. Cell phone companies also charge a fee.

Question: When I call 911 what do I say?

Answer: Be prepared to give your location, your phone number, and tell the operator in a COHERENT fashion what the problem is. It is hard to determine what help to send if you keep crying.

I've been a dispatcher for LAPD now for 13 years. It's a job I enjoy. I don't take it home with me, and I get a lot of personal satisfaction knowing that I was able to help people who genuinely needed help. Rarely do I hear "good job," "atta-girl," or receive recognization for staying on the phone with the caller during a harrowing situation. The police and fire officers who respond usually get the "atta-boys" and they deserve to, but this week, if you have a chance let the first 1^st Responder, the unsung hero who answered your call know you appreciate them.

Have a coffee and a nip of chocolate for me.

Author Bio: Stephanie Burkhart is a 911 dispatcher for LAPD. She writes paranormal, contemporary, and steampunk romance as well as children's books. She's addicted to coffee and adores a good piece of chocolate. She's also a boy scouting mom and owns a golden name Amelia. 

Hug a Dispatcher this week - It's National Dispatcher's Week 9-14 APR 2012

Me at work, LAPD 911 Dispatcher


My personal passion is for writing, but the job that pays the bills is my job as a Los Angeles Police 911 Dispatcher. I work 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. Being is a dispatcher is not for everyone. First I had to take a written test, a typing test (I needed to type 38 words a minute) a background check, a "pee" test (for drugs) and an oral interview. From the start of the process to when I was hired took 7 months - and that was pretty fast considering. The one thing you have to be to make a good dispatcher: a good multi-tasker. That's the only real skill you need.

Why did I want to become a dispatcher? For me, it was a natural extension of what I'd been trained to do in the Army. I worked as an MP (military police) in the army. Being a dispatcher allows me to help people who really need help. It's a very rewarding feeling when you take that call and you know you've gotten the police to them in time.

For me, when I answer 911, I have to quickly evaluate a call. Is there police, fire, or medical emergency. If it's medical or fire, I transfer to the fire department. If it's a police emergency, I'll handle it. If it's a non emergency I transfer to a police operator. I also train new hires to get the job and on occasion I act in a quasi- supervisory position when I listen to the RTOs in a bureau talk directly to polic offiers. LAPD has over 21 divisions. I act as a liasion to Pacific Division. Pacific Division is 26 miles square miles and covers Venice Beach along with LAX.

I take all kinds of calls. Screaming calls, unknown troubles, batteries and traffic accidents are some examples of the calls I handle. Then I get calls like this:



That is not a 911 call. I hate to say it, it's not. Sadly, 911 Dispatchers get calls like this all the time.

Here's a funny one on the fire/medical side of the house:




National Dispatcher's Week was designated by President George H.W. Bush in 1992 to acknowledge all the hard work that dispatchers do, and I'll be honest. Answering 911 can be mentally draining. Sometimes, though, when you get those calls of hikers stranded near the Hollywood sign and you're able to get the resources out there to help them out, like the helicopter and police, it's rewarding.

I've been doing the job now for 12 years. Only 9 more to go before I retire. If you call 911 know that your dispatcher is going to be there for you.

Anyone want to share any calls they made to 911 or know of any funny calls made to 911? I'd love to hear your stories.

Smiles
Steph