Essential skills for a 911 call taker consist of the following:
- Properly determine whether calls are an emergency or non-emergency
- Gather crucial and timely information from the callers
- Make quick decisions and react reasonably
- Enter information effectively in the Computer aided-Dispatch system (CADS)
- Obtain critical information and route the call as quickly as possible
- Remain extremely calm and professional with all parties
- Keep an open mind. ...
- Don't quit, keep going! ...
- Take advantage of your resources. ...
- Remember who you are - and that your job doesn't define you. ...
- Ask a question, then another question....and then ask some more questions!
What are the requirements to become a 911 call taker?
Some states require 911 call takers to be state certified, and many are required to pass emergency medical dispatch training courses. Employers may require some type of experience in communications or customer service for 911 call takers, particularly in complaint resolution or in receiving and transmitting information.
What are the call-taking standards for 911?
To provide uniformity and consistency in the handling of 9-1-1, other emergency calls and administrative non-emergency calls, the following call-taking standards are recommended: 1 Operational level of service 2 Order of answering priority 3 Answering protocol 4 Information gathering 5 Call transfer
How to become a 911 dispatcher?
Learning how to become a 911 dispatcher starts with a specific plan of action: Step 1. Prepare for Employment Becoming a 911 operator involves preparing for employment by meeting minimum requirements, which usually involves being at least 18 years old and possessing a high school diploma or GED.
What does a 911 call taker do?
911 call takers are the first point of contact when someone calls 911. Therefore, their job duties include: Answering all incoming 911 calls Collecting all pertinent information from the caller using excellent verbal communication skills Entering all information into the computer-aided dispatch system (CADS)