Ambulance Dispatcher

DUTIES AMD RESPONSIBILITIES: An Emergency medical dispatcher is a professional telecommunication, tasked with the gathering of information related to medical emergencies, the provision of assistance and instructions by voice, prior to the arrival of Emergency Medical Services, and the dispatching and support of EMS resources responding to an emergency call. The term Emergency Medical Dispatcher is also a certification level and a professional designation, certified through the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO),^[1] the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch,^[2] and Power Phone, Inc.^[3] Many dispatchers, whether certified or not, will dispatch using a standard Emergency Medical Dispatch protocol.

SALARY: $50,000-$300,000

EDUCATION: To work as an emergency medical dispatcher (EMD) or a 911 operator, a student must complete training that meets the standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Students can find such programs at community colleges, vocational schools and private training academies. Graduates of an EMD training program are eligible to sit for the National Academies of Emergency Dispatch (NAED) certification exam.

Coursework

An EMD training program typically takes two or three semesters to complete. EMD courses teach students how to obtain information from agitated callers, give the caller medical instructions before the units arrive, read guide cards, prioritize response personnel and manage stress. Students also learn about national and state regulations for EMDs, anatomy, physiology and ethical and legal issues for EMDs.

They learn how to send the correct number and type of units to an emergency and how to use a system of priority dispatch, which may consist of computers, telephone system (multi-line) and two-way radios. Many EMD programs either include CPR training or require it as a prerequisite.

Continuing Education

To maintain certification, the NAED requires EMDs to complete 24 hours of continuing education training every two years. In addition, NAED offers advanced EMD training through local 3-day seminars

REFLECTION: No because you always have to be on the phone 24/7 for someone if they need help so you could send and Ambulance. It’s a serious job that you have to take because other people depend on  you to be there when you call. You have to send an Ambulance to go help the person and with the right kind of medical and medicine.