What are the pros of being a 911 dispatcher?

Benefit packages for full-time Dispatchers typically include health, dental, vision, and life insurance as well as vacation and sick leave, holidays, and retirement plans. Dispatchers who work for State or municipal agencies may also be provided with uniforms.

Is 911 dispatcher a good career?

A career as a 911 dispatcher is fast-paced, hectic, and above all else, rewarding. As a part of a chain of emergency responders, dispatchers are the face—or the ear—of emergency calls to 911. It takes a remarkable person to do a dispatcher’s work, and it is not suited to everyone.

What are the disadvantages of being a 911 dispatcher?

It’s not guaranteed; you’re not a police officer, but it’s helpful. Cons: You often deal with people in their darkest hour. Some people are hard to deal with anyway even when it’s not an emergency but you will also deal with people in extreme situations. The job isn’t for everybody, especially on the medical side.

Is the 911 dispatcher test hard?

The 911 Dispatcher test is hard because it requires both a comprehensive knowledge of information related to emergency situations and the ability to work under pressure. Without proper preparation, only those candidates with prior experience in similar positions will be able to pass it successfully.

What is the turnover rate for 911 dispatchers?

According to the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), studies have shown 911 dispatch departments are seeing a 15 to 20 percent rate of staff turnover.

How fast does a 911 dispatcher need to type?

Most 911 telecommunicators are required to type between 30 – 45 WPM without errors. You should know what you’re getting into before applying for a job as a 911 dispatcher. Emergencies don’t sleep and 911 telecommunicators work in shifts. You will be required to work midnights, weekends, and holidays.

How do I prepare for 911 dispatcher?

How Can I Prepare for the 911 Dispatcher Test?

1. Coding/decoding information.
2. Map skills and following directions.
3. Name and number checking.
4. Problem solving.
5. Ordering information.
6. Deductive and inductive reasoning.
7. Typing test.
8. Personality Test to help prepare for the psychological evaluation.

Is dispatch a stressful job?

In addition to the job’s demands, dispatchers can experience traumatic calls that impact their emotional well-being. Nearly one-third of calls produce peritraumatic distress among 911 dispatchers. A study by the Journal of Traumatic Stress linked the distress to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Is being a truck dispatcher stressful?

If you want the hours to fly by, become a trucking dispatcher. There’s rarely a moment’s downtime. Great dispatchers are incredibly organized, have the ability to think quickly, are adaptable, and able to manage the demands of a high-stress job.

Is being a 911 dispatcher a tough job?

It’s a tough job, as you’re about to learn, but let’s lighten things up, if only for a moment, with these outrageous tales of the most hilarious 911 calls ever placed. For a full understanding of what it takes to be a 911 dispatcher, take a look at the Education Overview information on the NENA website.

What information should I give to the dispatcher?

The more information you provide, the better your dispatcher can serve you. To get the help you need as quickly as possible, here’s what you should be prepared to answer as calmly as possible: Your precise emergency—for example, “My child fell down the stairs.” The precise location of the emergency, with a cross street.

How many times a day do people accidentally call 9-1-1?

Sometimes people really did accidentally butt dial 9-1-1. That probably happened 100 times a day. So you’d pick up the phone and hear what was actually a movie or the radio or kids playing, but since you weren’t in the room with them, you had no idea what was going on. All you’d hear was screaming.

How many calls are made to 911 each year?

An estimated 240 million calls are made to 911 in the United States each year. That works out to about 650,000 calls every single day, according to Chris Carver, operations director for the National Emergency Number Association (NENA).