Dispatch in Depth

Sami Pohl and Erica Snyder, dispatchers with the City of Loveland Emergency Communications Center in Loveland, Colorado, discuss their podcast How to: 911, which they use to answer common questions and misconceptions held by the public about emergency services. For Your Information:Check out How to: 911 on other platforms: https://linktr.ee/Howto911Email the podcast hosts directly: howto911 (at) cityofloveland (dot) orgLoveland Emergency Communications Center: https://www.facebook.com/lovelandemergencycommunicationscenter/

Sean Ash, an Emergency Call Handler for the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust discusses how he got into emergency dispatching as well as what it’s like to be a dispatcher with a disability.  For Your Information: Read the Journal of Emergency Dispatch article about Sean: https://iaedjournal.org/one-step-at-a-time/  Donate to Sean’s fundraiser: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/goingthextramile  Get in touch with Sean: http://facebook.com/seanashx

Chaplain Russell Myers, Allina Health EMS, talks about the role of chaplains in EMS and emergency dispatch. He discusses research he's conducted about the most stressful EMS calls as well as things to consider when deciding whether to bring a chaplain into your center.

For Your Information:

Ask Chaplain Myers your questions directly at russellnmyers (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Be on the lookout for Russ's upcoming book, "Because We Care: A Handbook for Chaplaincy in Emergency Medical Services."

Read more about EMS chaplains:

https://www.ems1.com/ems-products/ems-data-management/articles/374719048-Q-A-How-can-leaders-identify-and-help-EMS-providers-who-need-support/

https://www.ems1.com/paramedic-chief/articles/393547048-EMS-Chaplaincy-Evidence-based-professional-practice/

https://www.ems1.com/patient-care/articles/enhancing-wellbeing-engagement-and-patient-care-in-ems-with-weak-ties-zXfe3ofzXc6FRMx2/

https://www.ems1.com/mental-health/articles/are-you-getting-cold-and-calloused-8skgoQMRK9ozONuw/

Kim Ruether, founder of Project Brock, gives some background on "Brock's Law" and Project Brock, a nonprofit dedicated to preventing sudden cardiac arrest in young people through awareness, education, and action.

For Your Information:

Read the Journal article about Brock's Law: https://iaedjournal.org/meet-brock/Learn more about Project Brock: https://projectbrock.com/Project Adam: https://www.projectadam.com/HeartsafeschoolsFind out how to protect youth from SCA: https://parentheartwatch.org/Learn CPR: https://citizencpr.org/Find out more about SCA: https://www.sca-aware.org/

Andre Jones, Assistant Executive Director of Communications and Control Centers for Hamad Medical Corporation, talks about what it's like being in emergency communications in Qatar and dispenses some leadership best practices.

For Your Information:

Read Andre's articles: https://iaedjournal.org/?s=andre+jones

Connect with Andre: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andre-jones-mpa-ms-enp-phd-student-2598362a/

Learn more about Hamad Medical Corporation: https://www.hamad.qa/EN/Hospitals-and-services/Ambulance-Service/Pages/default.aspx

Captain Kevin Haight, Commander of Statewide Emergency Communications in Idaho, talks about his master's thesis on the reclassification of emergency dispatchers, including why the current classification is a problem and what steps need to be taken to fix it.

For Your Information:

Read the thesis—9-1-1: What's Our Emergency? Diagnosing a Struggling Occupation Serving a Neglected System: https://calhoun.nps.edu/handle/10945/64917

Check out the Denise Amber Lee Foundation: https://www.deniseamberlee.org/

Learn more about Idaho's regional communication centers: https://isp.idaho.gov/communications/

Jennifer Chap, co-founder of BuddyCPR and StrataVerve, discusses sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) from a caller's perspective. She talks about the experience she had when her husband went into SCA and shares the findings of her research and work to improve public awareness and understanding of this topic.

For Your Information:

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is a life-threatening emergency that occurs when the heart suddenly stops beating. It strikes people of all ages who may seem to be healthy, even children and teens.

Link to Chap story that went viral: https://www.clickorlando.com/news/2015/12/09/cat-saves-owners-life/

Link to SCAF and 2015 Baseline Study with video clips: https://www.sca-aware.org/2015-study

Link to SCAF and 2017 Messaging Study with video clips: https://www.sca-aware.org/2017-study

Link to CARES: https://mycares.net/

Link to Call-Push-Shock and tested definition of SCA: https://callpushshock.org/

Link to PSA Survivor Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niDap1xpf2o&feature=youtu.be

Link to OFD: https://www.orlando.gov/Our-Government/Departments-Offices/Orlando-Fire-Department

Link to BuddyCPR: https://www.facebook.com/BuddyCPR/

Dr. Dan Cox, Board President of the Utah Chapter of the American Heart Association (AHA), discusses the AHA's objectives, how community outreach can still function during the COVID-19 pandemic, and whether compressions-only CPR is effective.

For Your Information:

Check out the AHA's website: https://www.heart.org/

Brett Patterson, Chair of the Medical Council of Standards for the IAED, discusses Proposals for Change (PFCs), a key part of the process of protocol evolution that keeps it as up-to-date as possible. He explains how PFCs came about, what makes a compelling proposal, and some common mistakes made when submitting one.

For Your Information:

Read Brett's FAQ articles: https://iaedjournal.org/category/best-practices/faq/

Submit a PFC: https://www.emergencydispatch.org/what-we-do/proposal-for-change

Ask Brett a question directly: brett (at) emergencydispatch (dot) org

Adrianne Miller, QA/QI and ETC instructor for Ford County 911 Communications, discusses dealing with suicide calls in rural areas, whether from the callers themselves or from people reporting the aftermath. She talks about her own personal experiences with these calls and the resources emergency dispatchers can use to recover from them.

For Your Information:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255