Tag: 911 dispatcher ptsd

Emergency Dispatchers Suffer with PTSD in Silence

9-1-1 dispatchers take a barrage of calls including fires, medical emergencies, auto accidents, and other life-threatening issues. One call quickly follows another. At the end of a shift it’s hard for dispatchers to ascertain which of the calls they took was the most tragic. 9-1-1 dispatchers leave the station after a shift, but the sounds and thoughts of the emergency calls follow them out the door and haunt them in their dreams later at night—if they can sleep at all. 9-1-1 Dispatchers Get Top Ranking as One of the Most Stressful Occupations Researcher, Laurence Shatkin, Ph.D., compared the stress levels ... Read more

What It Means to Be A Dispatcher

Often the forgotten group involved during an emergency contains the very people who serve as the first point of contact for help. Mention the term ‘First Responder,’ and images of firefighters, paramedics, and police officer come to mind. However, how do all those responders know where to go or whom to help? It all starts with a call to an emergency dispatch center. Without those individuals willing to answer that first call for help, people in need of fire trucks, ambulances, and squad cars would be out of luck. Choosing the path of a First Responder is a brave one. ... Read more