April 8-14 is
National Dispatcher Week
Special recognition to all the men and women
under the headset.
I would say "have you thanked your local dispatcher this week?" but don't you dare call unless it's actually an emergency!! Instead, the next time you do need to call the police or 911, listen to what they are saying and answer the questions they ask you. They are trying to help YOU. Please do what they ask you to do. Know that they honestly want to help if they can if you have a real emergency. Please forgive them if they are a little short with you, remember that they are a valuable resource that is abused each day by people who are lazy and rude. They are the ones who can send you the help you need. Take a second and say thanks to the dispatcher before you hang up, it would mean a lot to them. After listening to people in crisis all day, its nice to hear that someone appreciates their help.
911 is about life and death situations and medical emergencies. Every call that they answer that deals with anything else- takes resources away from those who genuinely need it.
3 comments:
Naw, really...we just sit around with our feet propped up, nap and eat donuts all day. :)
Happy "National Dispatchers...oops, I mean Telecommunicators Week", fellow emergency telecommunications professional!
You think we'll ever get to the point that we get offended at being called "dispatchers", preferring instead the term "telecommunicator"? You know, like calling a flight attendant a "stewardess" or a sanitation technician a "garbage man". Personally I don't give a damn, but I have noticed an increased use of the word (telecommunicator) in our industry lately...even heard it on an episode of "COPS" the other day.
I think it kinda loops us in with telemarketers and customer service folks. Other than the telephonic equipment, their jobs bear absolutely no resemblance to ours.
How 'bout, "Emergency Communications Operations Specialists" or "Logistical Resource Allocation and Fleet Management Experts" (yeah, that oughta be worth more money, eh?) Or perhaps "Crisis Intervention and Immediate Psychoanalytical Counseling Specialists" or "Telephonic Surrogate Parents"? Nah...I guess just plain 'ol "Dispatcher" kinda covers all that, doesn't it?
Yeah, I like Wadical ideas instead of telecommunicator...I agree, that word lumps us in with the people that try to sell stuff over the phone.
I was thinking that I would make a sign to put in dispatch advising the officers of Nat'l Disp Week... but they would probalby only laugh. hmmm, I might be able to get a free pop out of it
Your titles sound much more specific to what we actually do, Wadical. You're right, its annoying that we get lumped together with taxi dispatchers, telemarketers, customer service reps etc.
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