Becoming an Emergency Medical Dispatcher

If you enjoy helping people and can work at a fast pace, consider becoming an emergency medical dispatcher. You'll take emergency calls from the public, and send emergency responders to the scene.

To become an emergency medical dispatcher, you need to have a high school education and take training courses through a community college or vocational program approved by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Basic Telecommunications Training

Basic telecommunications training includes call reception, voice tone, speech rate, how to record information, maintaining contact with personnel in the field, recording techniques, and giving and understanding information. You'll also receive training on the 911 system, understanding how to use telecommunications equipment, writing and sending messages, typing and computer skills, and troubleshooting and reporting system problems.

Specialized Training

Dispatchers will be required to take training classes in managing callers, relaying medical instructions by phone, and sending help when emergency response resources are scarce. "A dispatcher must know both basic and advanced life support, and know which to use in emergency situations," according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

EMDPRS

Specific training in the Emergency Medical Dispatch Protocol Reference System (EMDPRS) is required to be an emergency medical dispatcher.

When a dispatcher needs to give lifesaving instructions to callers and isn't at the scene to assess the situation, she must have something to rely on, that allows her to make a decision about what is happening and what course of action to take. That's why the EMDPRS was created.

The EMDPRS is standardized and medically approved, so that each dispatcher can give consistent and accurate information. Interrogation questions allow the dispatcher to determine medical need, give medical instructions to callers, and send the appropriate medical responders if needed.

When a dispatcher receives a call that might require her to issue medical instructions, the EMDPRS helps the dispatcher determine whether it would be appropriate to give medical instructions. If medical responders are nearby, they may arrive at the scene before the dispatcher can give medical instructions.

Another factor to consider is that the person calling for emergency help might not be with the patient and may be calling from another location. In that case, giving medical instructions wouldn't be appropriate. If the caller doesn't speak English, you may not understand what he is saying, and he may not be able to understand your medical instructions.