Dispatcher

[NolaRabbit]

Our dispatchers are required to be EMT-B's and, as of last summer, EMD certified. They are trained for both calltaking and dispatching. No higher compensation is given for working comm center than on the street, but I believe one or two of the nearby suburban 911 services pay their dispatchers a $1/hour differential rate.

I cross-trained in comm center as a street Basic, and I'm glad I had the opportunity. It is a benefit to see both sides of the coin, and the best part is that on the few occasions I have had work-related injuries, I haven't had to use up my sick time.

 

[AJ Hidell]

In the several major cities I have visited, I have found that to be the case.

Okay. Well, major cities constitute a very small portion of the country. The real world tends to do things very differently than NYC, LA, and Boston.

If they are EMT-B why would they dispatch?

Because, believe it or not, some agencies are too cheap to hire paramedics to dispatch.

 

[JustMarti]

from the dispatch viewpoint

The only pre reqs I know of are

1. Have a burning hatred for field personnel

2. Be a complete moron with no sense of direction.

I am a full-time dispatcher for a small county, and run as volunteer EMT-B in my "spare time".
I love my field personnel, and have a way better sense of where you're going than you do. I have maps, gps, and assorted other progams to help ME get YOU where you're going...

Also keep in mind that multitasking is what I do, you're enroute to ONE call, how many am I juggling (in a dispatch center of one for LE, EMS and FIRE).

 

[eynonqrs]

I am currently a dispatcher for a private ambulance service. We are EMT's, and we all worked on the road. Having a dispatcher who has been on the road is great. I have a good working relationship with the crews. The crews and dispatcher treat each other with respect. As far as our county goes, all the dispatchers there has to take an APCO course. The had recently built a multimillon dollar building. They have call takers, and they have assigned dispatchers for FIRE/EMS and Police. All dispatchers should have some road time, not someone off the street.