Sunday, February 05, 2006
This is a test, Future Dispatchers of America !
Two Pre-Super Bowl Updates for you.
First, the 33.52 Mhz FIRE transmitter IS DOWN, as in OUT OF SERVICE.
For all those firemen in the Westmoreland County Area that depend on the 33.52 Mhz transmitter frequency for Pager / Siren / backup Ground Operations, 911 communications is OUT.
This is extremely serious and how 911 Management can let another minute go by without having radio maintenance out on a service call is beyond this Blah-ger, but another minute has passed by… tick, tick...
Second, a new group of dispatchers were being trained for positions with the Westmoreland County Department of Emergency Management as I reported a few months back and here is an update.
About a month ago the trainees began “calltaking” which is an extremely important part of the 911 process. Interacting with the people !
They began dispatching on the EMS frequencies last week and the Fire frequencies this week. Their BIG TEST will be on Tuesday to find out WHO will continue on as dispatchers and who will go home to look for another job.
The only advice this Blah-ger can give to the new group of dispatchers before test time is to remember that each call you take, whether you are on the phone or dispatching on the radio might be a life and death call.
Dedicate yourself to this job as only a few are qualified to be dispatchers, it is a unique job and position. Keep alert at all times ! If you don't know the answer to a question just ASK a more experienced Dispatcher like those that email me. THEY WILL HELP YOU ! When equipment fails on your shift MAKE SURE you get it reported and don't let the MANAGEMENT tell you otherwise ! If it still isn't fixed after 24 hours, email me ! Don't let someone DIE on your shift because of equipment problems, like the 33.52 Mhz Fire transmitter being out...
Good luck future dispatchers and GO STEELERS !
DECODED,
K3SAM
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