Just Keep Talking

Welcome to Dispatch Education!! We are Lisa and Bethany. Hey, do you remember that seen from Finding Nemo where Dory says, just keep swimming!!

I love that but what does it have to do with dispatchers?

Well, what happens when you get a caller who is panicked, traumatized and frantic? The dispatcher may not get any information and if they do it may be scattered or not make sense.

Ohh, and we learned that if a dispatcher can keep a person talking that they are more likely to calm down and give better or even good information.

Yep. As a dispatcher I am sure that calls can be exasperating and saddening at the same time. You are trying to make sense of what the caller is saying and it makes no sense. The dispatcher can continue to ask questions to get good info. I know that they have been trained and already know this but it is good to get reminders.

And if the dispatcher can ask simple questions with yes, no, right, left type of answers they are more likely to get to the heart of the crisis quicker. So, if they just keep talking, talking, talking… Now I get it. Next time you are in that situation, remember Dory, and just keep talking.

Be safe today and we will see you next time.