Page 7 - Safety - Issue 1

are on their way to being a Remain as calm as you can,
thing of the past. Therefore, and understand that the
it’s important to give your dispatcher is trying to assess
location to the dispatcher the situation in order to come
right away, in case the line up with solutions that help
becomes disconnected or you you or the victim during the
lose the ability to speak. emergency. Try not to ramble,
Next, you will need to tell mumble, scream or repeat
the operator what is wrong yourself. Answer questions
so that they can send a unit with as much relevant detail
to your location or transfer as you can.
❞ you to a paramedic, the If there’s anything you can
The best way fire department or a non- do to help a victim during an
to prepare emergency line. Be ready to emergency, the dispatcher
tell the dispatcher when the
will provide guidance. Follow
yourself for incident occurred and if it is their instructions exactly
successful still happening. Assess the rather than questioning them
emergency situation and figure out who every step of the way. They
are professionals, and this
needs help. Try to collect as
response is much data as you can. isn’t their first rodeo. If you
Your dispatcher will likely
to take CPR ask a myriad of questions spend too much time cross-
examining your operator,
and first aid during the call that may you will waste precious time
courses. seem excessive or like a that could be used to save
❞ waste of valuable time. someone’s life.

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