ALT-2 So you want to be a 9 1 1 Operator
Being a 911 dispatcher is more than a job to me. It's a commitment and it's a responsibility. Dispatching has its good days and its bad days. When I wake up in the morning have I know where I am going, what to do when I get there but I never know exactly what's going to happen. I think that is one of the reasons I enjoy dispatching. It's something familiar but never the same.
Life as a 911 dispatcher is unpredictable. You can expect emergencies, pain, pleas for help, and sometimes an occasional, unexpected happy ending.
Dispatching is more than answering a phone and telling officers, paramedics and firefighters where to go. You have to be alert, responsive and definitely be able to multi-task. I honestly don't believe that anyone can really understand or appreciate the value of a dispatcher until they have been one or sat in for a full day and watched.
Being a dispatcher, you must be able to cope with emergency situations and be able to process things quickly. You must be able to leave your emotions at the door. Heartfelt sympathy can sometimes make things worse. If you are an emotional person it's going to be hard for you to answer a call when a mother is screaming that her child is not breathing. You must be able to assess the situation and follow protocols with out missing a step while knowing that a child is dying and what actions you take will either help or make it worse.
Another important factor of being a 9-1-1 dispatcher has nothing to do with an actual call. You must be able to work shift work. I am positive that there is no such thing as a 9-1-1 dispatcher center that pulls a nine to five. You must also be able to give up your plans and stop what ever you are doing in the event that you are called to duty for such things as a hurricane, terrorist attack, raging flood, a huge wildfire, devastating tornado, or any other natural disaster that would call for an emergency activation! And you can bet that if it requires FEMA, it will require you to work long hours for several days in a row. Sometimes causing you to go days with out making it home at night or even seeing your family.
While there is a lot of hard work, and sometimes rough days, being 9-1-1 dispatcher has its ultimate rewards. In addition to the profession being a city, county or state job, it usually comes with a moderate salary and benefits. But the ultimate pay off comes with knowing that you helped save a life, or coached a panicked husband through childbirth over the phone. These are the things that make it all worth while at the end of the day!
