In emergency dispatching, pre-alerts are used to send responders to calls prior to getting a final dispatch code. This allows for early dispatch of responders although the incident type is not yet determined, and critical responder information such as safety hazards at the scene are typically unknown at this point in the calltaking process.
Erin Eaton, Operations Manager, and Jeb Lyons, Operations Manager, at Northwest Central Dispatch System (NWCDS) discuss their center’s fire specialist team, including how it started, what it’s accomplished, and how to put your own together.
Mike Thompson, a Fire Protocol, Academics and Standards Expert with the IAED’s Academics, Research, and Standards Division, discusses protocol accommodations for callers with disabilities, specifically for fire calls. He explains what accommodations exist and the events that prompted them.
Traffic incidents (collisions and crashes) are among the most common call types handled by Emergency Communication Centers (ECCs). They are also among the most complex call types because they represent such a range of possible situations. These can range from “fender benders” with no injuries and little or no property damage—in which case a single law enforcement officer might be an appropriate response—to mass-casualty events involving trains, buses, or other large, multipassenger vehicles.