What Did the Cellar Ever Do For You...? - Page 6

skysidhe · 01-10-2010, 09:14 AM

I could not do that work either. You are a hero of sorts juju.

jujuwwhite · 01-10-2010, 10:50 AM

Thanks shawnee and sky! I do work at a thankless job but it's ok because I can sleep at night when all my officers, paramedics, and firemen go home alive to their families and it's partly because as their dispatcher I look after them. I also love the feeling I get when callers get the help they need.

Undertoad · 01-10-2010, 11:33 AM

Plus you have to remain calm at the moment when people are anything but.

When we called 911 recently for the boy's toddler, the boy was so emotional, he was totally unable to communicate anything much except -- baby! banged head! OMG! His mom had to take over to get real information through.

What are the qualifications to be a 911 dispatch?

jujuwwhite · 01-11-2010, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Plus you have to remain calm at the moment when people are anything but.

What are the qualifications to be a 911 dispatch?

To initially get hired as a dispatcher, the only qualifications are to be able to type (since most dispatch is computerized nowdays), be able to handle stress from co-workers, supervisors, and especially callers. You really have to have thick skin to be able to take being called every name in book during a time of crisis. But you have to dish it all back too but in a professional, calm way.

Every state has different requirements, but every state has a 'post certified' school that all dispatchers have to go to be certified. There are lots of other certifications along the way, such as EMD (emergency medical dispatch) where we give cpr over the phone to emotional callers and take control of the situation until someone gets on scene to take over the call.

I could talk all day long about what I do because I am extremely proud of my chosen profession but this is probably more info than you really wanted to know. LOL

Undertoad · 01-11-2010, 10:51 AM

No I want to know more! You sit on one of the edges of society, you know?

What was the worst call you ever dealt with?

Shawnee123 · 01-11-2010, 10:53 AM

I read an article about a dispatcher's experiences some time ago. Fascinating.

Yes, tell us more juju!

jujuwwhite · 01-11-2010, 11:02 AM

I didn't realize anyone would be interested in my profession...I will start a thread on 911 experiences real soon. Thanks guys!

glatt · 01-11-2010, 11:06 AM

Do it soon. I want to hear about it too.

monster · 01-11-2010, 12:44 PM

http://www.neenaw.co.uk/

This is the very popular blog of a dispatcher in the UK. There are more.

Sundae · 01-11-2010, 01:57 PM

My Mum worked in ambulance control for about 10 years. In this country you dial 999 and are asked, "Which service, please?" If you asked for an ambulance in the mid eighties-nineties you'd have got through to my Mum (in Bucks, when she was on duty!)

You don't want her stories.
She came home full of stress, anger, bile, horror and helplessness. And irritability. And that was when she wasn't on nights. She mentioned being on nights over Christmas (three years running - the shifts fell as they did, no argument) to someone the other day. She said what hell it was having to get up and make Christmas dinner after less than six hours sleep. I chipped in that we were all terrified of her when she was on nights (perhaps a little TMI) and her response was, "If you hadn't all been so much trouble, perhaps things would have been easier for me!" So no regrets there then Mum.

capnhowdy · 01-11-2010, 05:42 PM

I have to hand it to Juju.... she really handles it well. I listen to her on the scanner and she's been there so long she's a natural. I can tell if it's been a 'crazy' night, but she rarely brings it home with her. A dead giveaway of a 'crazy' night is a glass of Bulleit or Knob Creek at 0830 hrs. The nights she works, she gets home just a few minutes before I am leaving to go to my job.

xoxoxoBruce · 01-11-2010, 10:00 PM

Aw, she just needs a stiff one... and her's is leaving for work.

capnhowdy · 01-12-2010, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Aw, she just needs a stiff one... and her's is leaving for work.

jujuwwhite · 01-12-2010, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by capnhowdy

A dead giveaway of a 'crazy' night is a glass of Bulleit or Knob Creek at 0830 hrs. .

Thanks for understanding Capn! I handle my job much better since I have an understanding husband who appreciates the stressful nights and doesn't scorn or fuss at me for coming home 'pissy' sometimes. It's true, I try not to take it out on him and most days I do pretty good, but sometimes he catches the blunt of my tiredness. I guess that's another good reason we are on separate rotations as far as our work schedule goes.

I do miss him when we are apart, but our separate schedules gives us both time to ourselves and we still find some very important quality time together.

Sundae · 02-25-2010, 11:00 AM

I'm way past the point of lumping all Americans together as a whole. But sometimes an overall flavour comes through. And it's very nice to know the Merkins I know have nothing to do with it.

http://www.cellar.org/showthread.php...309#post637309

Clod - who else? - reminds me that America is a big place with room for lots of opinions. And that although some are abhorrent to me, my countrymen are not immune to the same.

01-10-2010, 10:50 AM	#2
jujuwwhite Capnhowdy's #1 smasher Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Rentz, GA Posts: 339	Thanks shawnee and sky! I do work at a thankless job but it's ok because I can sleep at night when all my officers, paramedics, and firemen go home alive to their families and it's partly because as their dispatcher I look after them. I also love the feeling I get when callers get the help they need. __________________ I don't suffer from insanity...i enjoy every moment of it.

01-11-2010, 10:53 AM	#6
Shawnee123 Why, you're a regular Alfred E Einstein, ain't ya? Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 21,206	I read an article about a dispatcher's experiences some time ago. Fascinating. Yes, tell us more juju! __________________ A word to the wise ain't necessary - it's the stupid ones who need the advice. --Bill Cosby

01-11-2010, 11:02 AM	#7
jujuwwhite Capnhowdy's #1 smasher Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Rentz, GA Posts: 339	I didn't realize anyone would be interested in my profession...I will start a thread on 911 experiences real soon. Thanks guys! __________________ I don't suffer from insanity...i enjoy every moment of it.

01-11-2010, 12:44 PM	#9
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	http://www.neenaw.co.uk/ This is the very popular blog of a dispatcher in the UK. There are more. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

01-11-2010, 01:57 PM	#10
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	My Mum worked in ambulance control for about 10 years. In this country you dial 999 and are asked, "Which service, please?" If you asked for an ambulance in the mid eighties-nineties you'd have got through to my Mum (in Bucks, when she was on duty!) You don't want her stories. She came home full of stress, anger, bile, horror and helplessness. And irritability. And that was when she wasn't on nights. She mentioned being on nights over Christmas (three years running - the shifts fell as they did, no argument) to someone the other day. She said what hell it was having to get up and make Christmas dinner after less than six hours sleep. I chipped in that we were all terrified of her when she was on nights (perhaps a little TMI) and her response was, "If you hadn't all been so much trouble, perhaps things would have been easier for me!" So no regrets there then Mum. __________________ Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac

01-10-2010, 09:14 AM	#1
skysidhe ~~Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.~~ Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 6,828	I could not do that work either. You are a hero of sorts juju.

01-10-2010, 11:33 AM	#3
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Plus you have to remain calm at the moment when people are anything but. When we called 911 recently for the boy's toddler, the boy was so emotional, he was totally unable to communicate anything much except -- baby! banged head! OMG! His mom had to take over to get real information through. What are the qualifications to be a 911 dispatch?

01-11-2010, 10:51 AM	#5
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	No I want to know more! You sit on one of the edges of society, you know? What was the worst call you ever dealt with?

01-11-2010, 11:06 AM	#8
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Do it soon. I want to hear about it too.

01-11-2010, 05:42 PM	#11
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	I have to hand it to Juju.... she really handles it well. I listen to her on the scanner and she's been there so long she's a natural. I can tell if it's been a 'crazy' night, but she rarely brings it home with her. A dead giveaway of a 'crazy' night is a glass of Bulleit or Knob Creek at 0830 hrs. The nights she works, she gets home just a few minutes before I am leaving to go to my job. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

01-11-2010, 10:00 PM	#12
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Aw, she just needs a stiff one... and her's is leaving for work. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

02-25-2010, 11:00 AM	#15
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	I'm way past the point of lumping all Americans together as a whole. But sometimes an overall flavour comes through. And it's very nice to know the Merkins I know have nothing to do with it. http://www.cellar.org/showthread.php...309#post637309 Clod - who else? - reminds me that America is a big place with room for lots of opinions. And that although some are abhorrent to me, my countrymen are not immune to the same.

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