What It’s Like to Be a 911 Operator
In Short: Frustrating and rewarding.
You don’t want to call 911 but you have to. The first voice you hear is the 911 operator who asks you what the location of your emergency is. But you are freaking out and start yelling and screaming that you need help now. The fastest way to get help is to listen, give quick answers to our questions, and don’t hang up until we tell you.
People usually think of first responders as the police officer, medic or fireman who shows up in person when you call for help. But the people behind 911 are really the first responders and will help guide you through what may be the worst day of your life.
Everybody reacts to an unexpected situation differently, and most people will never have to call 911 in their lifetime. When you do have to call 911 be ready to provide the location/address of the emergency, and a phone number that you may be reached at. No matter what those two pieces of information are vital to getting you the assistance you need.
A lot of 911 centers in the U.S., and around the world (though the phone number may vary), use a set of protocols to determine the type of response that should be sent for medical emergencies. Protocols also exist for police and fire emergencies, but the medical protocols are most commonly used.
When going through the questions it may seem like we aren’t really helping but, in most cases, someone has already dispatched medical personnel to assist you. The questions are designed to get to the root of the problem and make sure that the right resources are sent to you.
We have people yell and cuss at us on a regular basis, but we will always strive to maintain our composure and be professional while handling your call. We may go outside and yell and scream to the sky after a call like that, but you are only going to hear calm, cool and collected.
Being a 911 operator, or telecommunicator as we are sometimes referred to as, is not simply a job. The hours are long and the stress level is through the roof. But it is rewarding, frustrating and infuriating all at the same time.
You see a side of people that nobody else likely will. On the worst day of their lives you will be there to comfort and help them. On the calls where you help deliver a baby there will be high fives all around, and the mood in the communications center will be upbeat.
In the blink of an eye the next call could be a cardiac arrest, and someone may need guidance to give their loved one CPR. Or it could be the wife who just discovered her husband who is deceased and is already cold and stiff.
From elation to sorrow, the mood can swing in seconds. You never know what the next call that you answer will bring. PTSD in emergency communication centers is very real. Being a 911 operator is not for everyone, and the amount of training required can be daunting.
The accolades are few and far between, and you may be working in a darkened location without windows for 12 hours at a time. It will feel like you spend more time with your co-workers than your family. The highs from the good calls may be quickly offset by the lows of a bad call.
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David Martin is a programmer, 911 telecommunicator, and long-time computer person trying his hand at writing for public consumption.
Originally published at https://what-its-like-to.com/911-operator/
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