What experience do you need to be a dispatcher?
Dispatcher Requirements
| Degree Level* | High school diploma or GED |
|---|---|
| Certification* | Requirements vary by state; emergency, police, and 911 dispatchers generally need certification |
| Experience* | Prior customer service experience may be preferred, although intensive on-the-job training is often provided |
What makes a good 911 dispatcher?
Qualities of a good dispatcher include: Compassion. Good judgment. High degree of emotional self control. Empathy and sensitivity.
How many hours a week does a 911 dispatcher work?
Generally, Dispatchers work a 40-hour week; however, rotating shifts, compressed work schedules, and overtime are common. Alternative work schedules are necessary to accommodate evening, weekend, and holiday work and around-the-clock operations.
What should you tell the dispatcher when you call for help?
By clearly stating your location (or a solid address if possible), emergency/what kind of emergency responder you need, and your phone number, the 911 operator can dispatch emergency responders to your location or call you back if the call drops. You might say, “I need an ambulance.
Why do 911 dispatchers ask so many questions?
Emergency dispatchers need to get accurate information to allow officers to make the best decision on how to approach the situation.
Why does 911 ask for your name?
The call-taker is always required to ask the caller’s name and phone number. This is in case we have to call you back, or the responders need to talk to someone who actually saw what happened. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GIVE YOUR NAME. Your call will be handled the same regardless if you choose not to identify yourself.
What happens if you call 911 and hang up before it rings?
It’s one of the rules of 911. If a 911 call comes in and then hangs up, they are supposed to call back. If they get no answer on callback, they send someone. The logic is, if the caller has a problem and they can’t talk, help will be sent anyway.
What happens if you call 911 and don’t say anything?
Originally Answered: What happens if you call 911 and say nothing? The police will be at your door in a few minutes. They will break it open if you don’t answer. The assumption is that you are in trouble and unable to speak for some reason.
Can 911 trace a cell phone call?
Historically, 911 dispatchers have been unable to track the locations of callers on cell phones as accurately as those calling from landlines. This location information must be available for at least 50% of wireless 911 calls, a requirement which increases to 70% in 2020.
Can 911 be texted?
Can you text 911? The answer is: yes. You don’t have to call during an emergency but can text 911 instead. Police services across the United States began implementing a program in 2014 that makes it possible for you to text 911 in many areas, since then, over 1,000 911 call centers have integrated this ability.
Can police track a phone?
“Even if a phone has GPS built in, police cannot locate a stolen or missing phone unless the tracker app is fitted and enabled.” Android users that have upgraded to the premium version of the app are able to remotely lock their phones and even wipe them.