Hey everyone! I'm a relatively new emergency medical dispatcher, and I'm looking for some honest advice from people who have been doing this for a while.

I've been in training for a couple of months, and I'm getting close to transitioning out of training (as of an exam on Wednesday, I will officially be out of training). I'm feeling pretty conflicted about whether my struggles are normal beginner difficulties that will improve with experience or whether this job might not be the right fit for me.

To give some context, I think I'm doing reasonably well in some areas. I'm generally good with addresses, and I'm relatively okay with speed. However, I find myself pausing when something comes up that I haven't been taught or don't immediately know how to handle. I'm able to manuever through ProQA pretty easily when it's a simple call (fall, sick person, even seizures or traumatic injuries) and I understand the process for the most part.

One thing that worries me is my ability to recognize and prioritize critical information while I'm focused on other tasks. For example, I took a call from a nursing home where a patient was coughing up a blood clot. I got so focused on the coughing that I processed it as a sick-person complaint rather than recognizing the significance of the bleeding. I've also had trouble retaining details like getting phone numbers while trying to keep up with everything else happening on a call.

I know I'm new, and I understand that experience makes a huge difference. But these situations make me question whether I'm struggling because I haven't developed the necessary skills yet or because the multitasking and real-time information processing required for this job are particularly difficult for me.

My training situation hasn't helped. I missed a week of training because my trainer was out, and I ended up skipping the usual intermediate phase where you talk to the caller while your trainer handles the typing. I went straight from data entry to talking and typing simultaneously. I've also felt that there have been gaps in what I've been taught, which contributes to me freezing or hesitating when something unfamiliar comes up.

I'm especially terrified of getting an active CPR call. I worry that I won't be able to move through ProQA quickly enough while listening to the caller and processing what's happening. I've also taken some distressing calls already, and hearing calls involving things like sexual assault or an unresponsive baby has affected me more than I expected.

The frustrating part is that I don't necessarily think I'm incapable of doing this job. I think a lot of my problems could be skill-related, and I'm willing to learn. But I'm also genuinely struggling with the thought of doing this every day, and I'm trying to figure out whether I should stick it out or consider a different path.

For those of you who have been dispatching for a while, I'd really appreciate some honest answers to a few questions:

• How long did it take for ProQA to start feeling more natural? Did you initially feel like you couldn't navigate it fast enough while talking to callers?
• Does recognizing and prioritizing critical information become more automatic with experience? How did you learn to avoid getting so focused on one detail that you missed another important one?
• How did you get better at multitasking and retaining details like phone numbers while listening, questioning, and typing?
• Is it normal to freeze or hesitate when something comes up that you haven't specifically been taught? How did you learn to handle unfamiliar situations without losing your place?
• How did you handle your first high-acuity calls, especially CPR calls? Did you feel unprepared at first, and what helped you build confidence?
• How did you distinguish normal new-dispatcher struggles from signs that the job wasn't a good fit for you?

I'm not looking for reassurance just for the sake of reassurance, and I don't expect to be perfect as a trainee. I'd genuinely appreciate practical advice, including things you wish you had known when you were starting out. Hell, if you think I need to quit, tell me.

I want to give myself a fair chance to learn, but I also want to be realistic about my abilities and whether this is the right career for me.

Thanks in advance!

Hello.

I am taking the dispatch test for APD. Has anyone taken the test for the Anchorage Police Department looking for tips.

Hope this is okay to post - our department is hiring for a dispatcher adjacent position if anyone is in the tri state area.

Link!

How does your agency handle holidays? Are people allowed to take vacation? Are there any parameters on taking holidays off, having coverage on holidays, etc?

Give me all the details. My agency used to have a really weird way of doing vacation in general (it was allowed if it didn’t create overtime. Then if something changed, the person on vacation was asked if they could/told to come to work). We are looking at changing things, but allowing vacation on holidays and mandating coverage to cover the vacation time is not going over well, and no other ideas have had legs.

Has anyone here ever worked at an agency with a real, functioning and effective EOC?

I’ve worked at a few agencies over the last couple decades and I have yet to find one. I ask because they are thinking of remodeling ours even though it has never once been activated ever since I’ve been at my current spot.

When I was at a larger agency it would get activated all the time. People would show up from all over the city, put on their reflective vests (so they don’t run into each other indoors?), hold up their custom orange non tippable coffee mugs with the EOC logo on it, and have a little coffee clatch while what ever natural disaster was unfolding.

It was always and still is just dispatch. We get the notice from an officer of flooding, we call public works, we do it all. The 911 manager and the public works manager sitting right next to each other don’t even know about it.

Where I’m at now. It’s just a large empty room. It doesn’t even matter how bad of a storm or fire or whatever, it’s never been used. So of course it needs a remodel?

Anyways that’s my rant. But I am also curious if a real legitimate EOC exists out there that takes some of the work load off dispatchers during the busiest emergencies?

Perhaps it’s best function is keeping people who need to appear to have something to do who actually don’t off the dispatch floor and out of our way…

Hello I just passed my criticall test for TPS and have been invited to do the perfex test. I have been doing a bit of studying on it and have some questions:

1. For the handwriting sequence can I write in shot form and later write in the portions in the correct form? Will there be time for this? Do they give time at the end of the test to edit things if you want?

2. For the map portions I record the address they say and then I have to find the "map page". Some of the free tests I am doing provide very little time for this. I spend more time sifting through the pages rather than writing down the number. Again, will I have time at the end to do this because I am confidant I can write down the addresses, just unsure if I can flip these pages fast enough to get the answer.

Thank you and any other tips would be appreciated. I am very excited but nervous at the same time.

I am in the process of background and psych but not hired yet. Went for a sit-along last week, and the person I shadowed was the same one who took a call from me earlier this year when my child encountered a suspicious man at a bus stop. There were some specific details I'm leaving out, but once I mentioned, the dispatcher immediately remembered the call because it was oddly specific (and they clearly have an amazing memory).

I just wanted to share because we both found it so surprising! By the way, this is the largest dispatch center in the state, so it's not like we only have one dispatcher in the area.

That being said, the sit-along was so amazing and I enjoyed every second of it. Crossing my fingers I make it to academy!

Long time lurker on this sub, and very thankful for all the information posted regarding the timeline of the hiring process.

I am just trying to gauge how long from conditional offer to a start date. I signed the conditional offer around end of September, psych eval was beginning of October and now medical exam is end of October. My main concern is on the offer letter it said not to quit my current job until I have been given a start date and that there’s more offers given out than positions available.

My current employer is already aware that I have been going through this process, but I have not provided an official notice that I am leaving. I really appreciate my current employer and would hate to quit without giving proper notice.

Also since my medical exam is end of October, is it common for dispatch centers to start new hires around the holidays? I have no problem working through the holidays, it just seems like it would be easier/more efficient to hire and train someone after the holidays.

I am aware every center is different, I would just like to see what other people’s experience has been.
And for what it’s worth I applied to this position December 2025 so I’ve been playing the long game.

I just cancelled my application because I don’t think I’ve been given a fair opportunity. I was told I had to provide four medical follow up while being very healthy. The amount of time and money I’ve spent the last two weeks on these appointments only to be told I’m not being considered for the hiring class has made me so emotional. The amount of work I’ve put into all of this was so stressful. I was told the testing date doesn’t expire until 2030. I’m sorry but, I’m not holding myself back until then. I don’t feel as if I’ve had an honest start to begin with.

Disclaimer: We live in a rural area, reasonably small county

Dispatcher: BOLO for Grey Ford Truck, unknown year and model, occupied by John Doe, (description) left (address) approx 10 mins ago, no known direction of travel.

Officer #1: What year is the vehicle?

Officer #2: Did they say what kind of Ford Truck?

Ten minutes later:

Officer #1: Show me out with (license plate number) at (location) this vehicle might possibly be BOLO vehicle

Dispatcher: Gives read back of tag info, says vehicle should be silver in color

Officer #2 to Officer #1: Is that the BOLO vehicle?

Officer #1: No, dispatch said this tag came back to a silver truck, the BOLO vehicle is a Grey truck.

Dispatch (not keyed up) WTF did he just say???

So glad my shift was almost over. You REALLY can't make this stuff up!!

last night at 1am i was on the highway and saw someone in need of help who had clearly fallen off of a motorcycle. another civilian was there propping them up. because i was on the highway i took note of the exit number within about a quarter mile of the incident and called 911 as soon as i passed the incident, thinking that they could use that information along with the route and direction i was traveling to help locate where the ambulance should go. the dispatcher didn’t seem to be able to use this information and was asking for the exit name which i wasn’t sure of.

basically: is giving the highway exit number not a good way of pinpointing locations for dispatchers? what could i do differently in the future if i am in this situation again? thank you! for reference this happened in Ohio, USA.

edit: to clarify, the dispatcher was able to use this info but i was just surprised that they still were looking for additional information outside of direction/highway number/exit number.

Hi everyone,

I work on the 911 emergency line and I’m from Mexico. I’m really curious about how things are done in other places. I’ve been following the group, and the way you work is very different from how it’s done in my country.

My interest started because at my workplace it feels like we’re still developing: we don’t have enough tools or information, and what we do have isn’t very sophisticated. I wanted to learn more and find resources I could use for my personal and professional development in this field.

I’d like to ask you to share some of the tools you use, as long as they can be shared, of course. I understand that every place works differently and that some information can’t be disclosed for confidentiality reasons.

If there’s anything I can contribute, I’d be glad to help.

Thank you, and have a great day.

So, I am conducting a research study examining the perceived benefits and use of dark humor as a coping mechanism among military personnel, first responders, healthcare professionals, and the general population. Participation is voluntary and anonymous. The survey is open to adults ages 18 and older and takes approximately 7–10 minutes to complete.

Some of you may find the questions interesting, some may find it boring. Either way, help a Shipmate out.

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I have Mod approval to post.

I've been trying to do some research on AI QA programs. They seem like a great resource in principle, we aren't Q'ing enough calls manually. It can be such a process and staffing is short.

To those that are using it currently, do you like it? Do you find benefit in it? Does it save as much time as it seems it would?

How are you verifying the QA reviews? Q'ing 100% of calls sounds great, but what are you doing with all of that data and information? Do you have your QA team reviewing all of the AI reviews for accuracy? Or are you just trusting it?

Having all of that data for every call sounds amazing, but how are you putting that data to use?

In the very early stages on researching this, need to get some demos set up on various products but I'd love to hear from those actually using it today.

I’ll start

Not sure if this is common practice or just in my area but if you make a noise complaint and do not want to talk to an officer 99% chance we do not care and will not go out to that call.

Hello my Reddit users, I’m someone who who recently took a high interest in being a communications operator but my only concern is I’m someone with a criminal record and when I was advised about this career it was a police detective who actually told me the operator position doesn’t do criminal background check which blew my mind cause you’d think if anybody wanted to work for tps certainly there would be checks done. But so far her statement looks kinda true as if been looking around a bunch of other careers in Tps which most of them state they do background checks but when I checked for the operators position it says nothing about background checks being done. So it really gave me a relief and a chance to work for Tps as that was my second option of a career before I got my criminal record but I’m getting worried because I saw a post here on this subreddit about someone waiting for there background checks to clear for the on going hiring stage and I plan to take a course that would be needed to qualify as a candidate for the position but I don’t want to spend 2k$ if at the end there gonna do background checks. So I’m here writing for the first time if there’s anyone who strictly works for Tps as a communications operator can they please clarify there experience throughout the hiring stage from the beginning to the end please and thank you.

It's so rare that we get a lot of real compliments so I just wanted to share after reading another post.

I know many get frustrated with all the hiring questions. Undoubtedly the #1 answer to these questions is 'tell the truth.' It just feels awesome to see that always be the top comment. We're not perfect, but this industry is full of people of quality character.

goodonya

So I start Training two weeks from now and feel like I should utilize this time to study/prepare myself for what’s to come. Are there any specific topics or procedures you’d recommend a newbie study to make the training even a little more easier? Thank you so much in advance! :)

Also any advice is much appreciated! :,)

Hi! I’m a freshly released trainee from class (finished today actually) and I start OJT tomorrow. I got a bag that I thought would fit everything and it does not. What bag do you use to carry your things? I need something that’ll fit my keyboard, headset, notebooks, toiletries, etc.

I have no idea where the iphone satellite comms centre is located (based on a few y'alls I'm assuming somewhere in the US), but if any of you folks are here, I just want to say how much I appreciate you! There have been numerous calls I've taken lately and the level of service and help from these folks was unexpected in a really good way.

And then there's lifeline and the scammy predatory alarm companies - I deter old people I know from using these services. The last lifeline call I took was from someone who sounded like they were working from home, crying kid in the background and all! I'm a mom, I get that kids cry, but when you're trying to tell me about an emergency and I can't hear anything, it's a problem.

Hello, I was looking to get some advice.

I have been attempting to become a 911 dispatcher in the area, and I feel like I have applied for almost every dispatch in the area. I wasn't chosen after all of my evaluations for one. Now recently I was denied for another position, and they said it was due to my background but they didn't specify what. So now I'm wondering, is it because I have applied to so many different positions that they haven't accepted me and I look desperate? Or could it be that I am currently a student so they feel it will be a waste of money to train me?

I'm trying an application for a call taker position, but I feel like I am constantly wasting my time.

If you receive emergency call and you help them out with whatever situation and stay on the phone til help arrives, do most if not all callers thank you and hang up then? Or do people stay on the phone engaging you for some reason instead talking with the police on the scene and the fire fighters. I'm just curious if the call ends when help arrives.

Follow up from 1st post, Bob complained to the manager that I didn't help him during a tragic call. Now he has gotten a few other employees to watch my calls and they reported to the manager when I made mistakes, even though I corrected them. I knew I was being watched and it really affected my performance and confidence. Now I have to go back to work tonight and suck it up and do my best. What's your best advice? Thanks

Hi, I’m an ambulance dispatcher in the UK, a close friend of mine is making suicidal comments, I do not have his address and he will not give it to me. He has not disclosed a plan to me, and I have asked him directly and he has denied a plan multiple times. I am on the phone with him constantly trying to distract him.

in my job, we cannot dispatch ambulances without an address, we haven’t really got the facilities to do so and police don’t always go to mental health related jobs unless there is a threat of violence or safety concerns for others

My question is, if I were to pass a name, DOB, area to interpol would dispatchers be able to trace an address or should I keep trying to convince him to give me an address?

Tia

Recently I experienced my first panic attack, it was quite scary. Left side of body tingling, cold sweat, shortness of breath, chest pain, the whole 9 yards. I called 911 though because I didn’t know at the time it was a panic attack, and to this day it still feels odd to call it just a “panic attack” because everything in that moment felt so real. Like I was going to die.
Understanding this, why would my 911 dispatcher ask me 3 or 4 times to repeat my address? I’m curious because in the moment it actually made me kind of furious and even more anxious. I thought she was hard of hearing but I tried my best to do exactly as she asked amidst all the crazy things my body was doing.
The call specifically started out as follows (yes I remember it well, it was pretty unforgettable)

Dispatcher: “Hello 911 what’s the location of your emergency?”

Me: panicked and shaky voice “Hi it’s (insert personal address) and I think I’m having a stroke”

Dispatcher: “Sorry say that again, your address is…?”

Me: “it’s (insert personal address) please hurry!”

(few seconds of pause here, just imagine me trying to maintain deep breaths on the phone while I hear clickity clackity on the other end of the phone)

Dispatcher: “Sorry you said (listing off only the numbers)”

Me: “it’s (repeats address again including the numbers) my body is going numb please hurry!”

Dispatcher: “okay and you said you’re having a stroke?”

from here on she gets me to do some tests on myself to see if I’m showing signs of a stroke. It felt like forever in the moment but it probably took close to a minute, maybe less, for her to get my info.

I’m not at all wanting to be rude or angry at this dispatcher. They’re doing a job I could never wish upon anyone, especially myself. It’s a tough job. What I want to know is, why did the dispatcher need me to repeat my address so much? Later on at the hospital my father mentioned to me it was likely “a test” and it got me thinking, what really was going on there? Did she already have my address and was more wanting to hear me speak to see if I was slurring words? Or was she genuinely trying to write down my address correctly and needed me to repeat it a few times? And also, for future reference (if it happens again, which I hope I don’t need an ambulance for a very, VERY long time, but if I do…) is there anything I can do to avoid confusion? I want to give the dispatcher the best, clear and concise info I can when I need their help the most.