Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 be patient, listen to your trainer... and don't beat yourself up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 4, 2004 Report Share Posted June 4, 2004 >I have been told the radio is the most important, but I cannot " hear " the radio when I am on the phone. And, I try so hard, but I cannot understand everything the officers say...they mumble. I feel so inadequate, I hope I get this, I love the job.< You sound like any prospective " Dispatcher " with 4 weeks on the job and 10 days on the radio... overwhelmed... One of the most important things you can do right now is to let your supervisors know how you are feeling... how much you want to do the job, and do it well. Ask for any help available. Keep plugging away. You really have very little time on the job, and if your agency is a good one, they will work with you. The problem of not hearing or " understanding " is a common one and if you are suited for the work, there's a good chance that one day it will just " come to you " ... for some reasons the good Dispatchers develop what I call " The Ear " ... they hear what they need to hear, and dismiss all the rest... It's hard to explain but it just seems to " happen " . I think it has to do with time, and being able to relax a little while at the console. At first you are so nervous, and your mind is going a mile a minute. It makes it very difficult to hear and understand radio traffic that is hurried, mumbled, covered or a multitude of other problems. After you've sit in " the chair " for a while, you start breathing a little, become a little more relaxed. Calming down a little allows you to better hear what's going on... after you understand it a little, it then becomes easier to " pick out " what's really important. There are others on this list that may give you better advice on how to hone these skills. Ways to practice etc... but it really comes down to time... if given enough time and understanding you should be able to do this... but not everyone can... so give it your best, relax as much as you can. Do what your supervisors ask and do not hesitate to go with them with questions or concerns. Weintraut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2004 Report Share Posted June 6, 2004 >But one, wants to take me under her wing, and is trying to get me on her shift for the next 2-3 weeks. It is the 4p to mid shift. I like her but she is tough, but I need that. I understand her. I guess I will be ok, thanks for your help,< My guess is that is where you need to be. I'm a strong advocate of one trainer... many disagree...but with all the different styles, different ways to do things, it becomes even more overwhelming when you are going from one dispatcher to another. One trainer for 2-3 weeks will give you some stability, and maybe help you relax even more. If you can get with this trainer for any length of time, work really hard with her... 4-12 is a tough shift on which to learn, but it's probably also where you need to be to help with the multitasking. If she's worked 4-12s for any length of time she probably knows all the " shortcuts " we all need to keep up with the work. tp says.. >For myself and many others I know there was that day when suddenly we felt halfway " confortable " ,< I truly believe that even the Dispatchers who learn quickly, and can do the job well... It's somewhere between one and two YEARS before they really feel comfortable and have a " flow " that makes them special. With no more time than you have on, it sounds to me like you're doin' ok.... I really wish you well... Weintraut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2004 Report Share Posted June 6, 2004 Debbi C writes: > Hello all, my name is Deb and I am a new police/fire/medic/911 > dispatcher. Started 4 weeks ago... Deb in Ohio Deb, There is a group for Ohio dispatchers. If you want to be a member, email me at randym@.... Randy Mace Athens County 9-1-1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 6, 2004 Report Share Posted June 6, 2004 I truly believe that even the Dispatchers who learn quickly, and can do the job well... It's somewhere between one and two YEARS before they really feel comfortable and have a " flow " that makes them special. Very well put, I totally agree with you, !!!! Lucille NWPD New Jersey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 7, 2004 Report Share Posted June 7, 2004 In a message dated 6/7/2004 7:20:14 AM Mountain Standard Time, jtkjones@... writes: It means they don't utilize a CAD system. They use cards to keep track of calls and units. Jim Mr 911 TriCom And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, I think learning the job without a CAD (computer aided/assisted dispatch) system is better for you because you really do have to learn the job, not just how to make a computer work and what each screen means. On the flip side of the coin, CAD's are great for storing and having immediate retrieval of historical data for locations, premise information, quick look up of old calls but I firmly believe CAD or not, each dispatcher should know how to do the job blind folded/hands tied behind their back when it comes to who to send to every location and type of call and how to prioritize without all the recommendations and maps and fancy gadgets that are out there. It kills me when at my little department (less then 10 square miles) the newer dispatchers (read: never worked on punch cards) believe what the CAD recommends for response is what needs to go and that data is only as good as the person who loaded it or how the system works. Good luck on the job and do NOT let the fact they aren't computerized make you think you can't do the job or shouldn't apply for the job. kathy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 , I hope I don't upset anyone with this statement but punch card system is pre 19th century form of dispatching, everything of importance is wrote on the card and time stamped till the call is completed Modern time is a CAD system Tom East Central Illinois Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 >I hope I don't upset anyone with this statement but punch card system is pre 19th century form of dispatching, everything of importance is wrote on the card and time stamped till the call is completed < Nope.... I'm not upset... But I can testify that for a small agency, they worked, and they worked pretty well. Before cards the Dispatcher sometimes jotted down a note on a " memo pad " ... and sometimes didn't... The cards, along with tow-in cards and accident log made up a pretty handy record system. " 19th Century " Weintraut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 8, 2004 Report Share Posted June 8, 2004 We also started without a CAD system but we didn't have punch cards, more like a sheet of paper with different fields to fill in. Our radio log was a typewritten log that we caught up when we had a chance if we got busy. I have to say that in that respect it is much better with a CAD system for prior history at an address, we have that information available to us at the click of a button and are able to share that with all of our emergency responders. Roscommon County (MI) Central Dispatch Re: 911:: new dispatcher > >I hope I don't upset anyone with this statement but punch card system is pre > 19th century form of dispatching, everything of importance is wrote on the > card and time stamped till the call is completed < > > Nope.... I'm not upset... > > But I can testify that for a small agency, they worked, and > they worked pretty well. > > Before cards the Dispatcher sometimes jotted down a note > on a " memo pad " ... and sometimes didn't... > > The cards, along with tow-in cards and accident log made up > a pretty handy record system. > > " 19th Century " Weintraut > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 9, 2004 Report Share Posted June 9, 2004 <<And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, I think learning the job without a CAD (computer aided/assisted dispatch) system is better for you because you really do have to learn the job, not just how to make a computer work and what each screen means.>> I so agree! It is amazing to me that when we have power outages or some other incident that takes CAD out of the picture, all the dispatchers are clueless as to what to do! I admit the manual logs that were in existence a few years back for our department were confusing, they have been redone however and still people look at them as if they have forgotten how to read English! <I firmly believe CAD or not, each dispatcher should know how to do the job blind folded/hands tied behind their back when it comes to who to send to every location and type of call and how to prioritize without all the recommendations and maps and fancy gadgets that are out there.> Amen! Freida Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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