The Most Important People You Will Never Meet... Dispatchers

By Jan Myers - 911 Wellness Foundation

A Couple of Questions:  Why is the phrase, ‘I’m just a dispatcher” still used?  When will dispatchers finally accept that they are first responders? 

Over 15 years ago I was tasked to write an article; an extremely unfamiliar and uncomfortable task required to complete a year long process of becoming a master instructor for California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).  This was not a task I took lightly for two reasons:  Being published scared the living crap out of me, and, I was JUST a dispatcher…How could someone like me write an article?

Fast forward to 2015.  President & Founder Sean Riley from Safe Call Now® asked me to write a segment for his blog, specifically for dispatchers.  I pondered on this for a bit.  I’m no longer fearful of writing, thanks to the 3 plus years on non-stop writing required of a mental health counseling graduate degree program.  I no longer work a radio or telephone system, thanks to a posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis in 2001 – not that I could not continue the work, I chose not to.  On the other hand, I’ve been blessed to continue to work with 9-1-1 dispatchers, emergency call takers, telecommunicators, etc., by way of teaching at academies in California and Oregon, and participating with pro-dispatch programs such as Safe Call Now® and the 9-1-1 Wellness Foundation.  Reflecting on these experiences, I continued to ponder … What concerns have dispatchers continued to express in academies and or advanced courses over the years?  What are they fearful of?  Do they still feel unappreciated? 

The Operator... What You Don't Know

By Matt McClelland

This short film is dedicated to the men and women who sit behind the microphone everyday.  The horror they have to deal with many of us have no idea.  Remember you never need suffer in silence, Safe Call Now® is here for you 24/7-Nationwide.  We answer the phones for you when you need help.  206-459-3020.

Matt made this short film about the day in the life of a 911 dispatcher.  "I know many people - both friends and family who are currently working or have worked as law enforcement and first responders.  I'd like to share this film with you as I believe this film accurately depicts the struggles you all have to overcome on a daily basis."

WARNING:  Possible triggers for those of you suffering from PTSD

 

 

Substance Abuse & the First Responder Population

Safe Call Now®'s National Report on Substance Abuse and the First Responder Population

 

 

 The most potentially dangerous and seldom mentioned issue facing public safety personnel today is the existence of substance abuse and addiction among its ranks.  With reported abuse rates over twice the national average for the general population, many of those entrusted to protect and serve the communities of America are struggling to hold their own lives together.  For those public safety employees fighting the demons of substance abuse and addiction, they are also challenged by working within a professional culture that has historically discouraged them from asking for help.  In fact, many public safety professionals who divulge their struggles to employers and seek assistance are given the option to quit their job or be let go.  The result, they keep their substance abuse and addiction a secret.  This dysfunctional way of doing business produces shattered lives for those personally impacted by the substance abuse and addiction, as well as a potentially perilous situation for the general public.

 

 

Safe Call Now^®, a non-profit organization, offers nationwide, comprehensive crisis referral services for all public safety employees and their family members.  Established and managed by public safety officials, Safe Call Now^® recognizes firsthand the stressors first responders encounter and offers a broad array of training, as well as a confidential, 24/7 crisis hotline staffed by current and former public safety employees. Additionally, Safe Call Now^® is dedicated to erasing the stigma surrounding substance abuse and is committed to creating programs designed to save the careers and lives of those impacted by it. While Safe Call Now^® is staffed to handle a wide array of crises, this document focuses on how the organization addresses substance abuse and addiction in the public safety population.

 

To read Safe Call Now®'s entire national report  Click here

Rob Michaels Addresses the "House"

Serve & Protect Founder and CEO Robert Michaels provided the U.S. House of Representatives with the opening prayer on September 9th, 2015.  I've personally known Rob since the inception of Serve & Protect and I can't think of a more worthy or deserving chaplain to have this honor bestowed upon him.

Rob is a selfless, dedicated individual that saves lives on a daily basis.  Safe Call Now® is honored to call Rob and Serve & Protect "our partners".  Rob...  you did an amazing job.  God bless!!!

 

#1stresponders... How Many Sundays Do You Have Left???

By Safe Call Now® President & Founder - Sean Riley

As I crisscross the country over the next seven weeks I have to ask myself, "How many Sundays do I have left"?  Why do I ask you this?  Because what I wanted to talk about are the demands on all of our time when dealing with the daily grind.  As we head into the dog days of 2015 the demands on our time with family vacations, employment, completing all of those tasks that we put off and the personal goals we promised ourselves we would accomplish will only increase.  Last night I had the opportunity to watch a one man Broadway play entitled “700 Sundays” by Billy Crystal.  In it he speaks about his life and how he only got to spend 700 Sundays with his father who died when he was age fifteen. He spoke about his joys, his pains, his heartbreaks, his regrets and his happiness.  What got me thinking is when he spoke about the “cards” we are all dealt with in life. 

As I reflect back on 23 years of addiction I calculated out that I threw away 1,196 Sundays. These are the cards that were dealt to me or I dealt to myself.  My hand of cards included guilt, shame, embarrassment, a criminal act, selfishness, self-sabotage and destruction just to name a few.  Once I was provided with the opportunity of treatment (fortunately or unfortunately by the federal government) I was able to “fold” my cards and get a new hand.  One that now includes happiness, sadness, healthy relationships, pain, sadness, family and many others. I have the cards of “Life” today.  I figure if I live to be a 100 I have 2,496 Sundays left and I intend to make the most of them!  I intend to live life on life’s terms and see where that tiger takes me. 

Dispatchers... You are the First, #1stresponder

By Jan Myers

A Couple of Questions:  Why is the phrase, ‘I’m just a dispatcher” still used?  When will dispatchers finally accept that they are first responders? 

Over 15 years ago I was tasked to write an article; an extremely unfamiliar and uncomfortable task required to complete a year long process of becoming a master instructor for California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).  This was not a task I took lightly for two reasons:  Being published scared the living crap out of me, and, I was JUST a dispatcher…How could someone like me write an article?

Fast forward to 2015.  President & Founder Sean Riley from Safe Call Now® asked me to write a segment for his blog, specifically for dispatchers.  I pondered on this for a bit.  I’m no longer fearful of writing, thanks to the 3 plus years on non-stop writing required of a mental health counseling graduate degree program.  I no longer work a radio or telephone system, thanks to a post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis in 2001 – not that I could not continue the work, I chose not to.   

On the other hand, I’ve been blessed to continue to work with 9-1-1 dispatchers, emergency call takers, telecommunicators, etc., by way of teaching at academies in California and Oregon, and participating with pro-dispatch programs such as Safe Call Now® and the 9-1-1 Wellness Foundation.  Reflecting on these experiences, I continued to ponder … What concerns have dispatchers continued to express in academies and or advanced courses over the years?  What are they fearful of?  Do they still feel unappreciated? 

First Responders: Fat or Fit... Is Not a Choice!!!

By Sgt. Mark St. Hilaire

Recently, a citizen’s police academy for pre-teenage kids was hosted by a law enforcement agency close by.  Part of the session was a physical exercise program to start the day led by a police officer.  Another officer made an observation that more than half the kids participating could not do basic calisthenics, one or two proper push-ups or keep up with the group in a jog.  The same officer noted that his child (who was in this program) is very athletic and enjoys athletic activities especially running. He told me that in school, his child is penalized in gym class for being athletically fit. 

I must have displayed a "WHAT?" look on my face as he explained to me further that in the middle school, they place heart monitors on the students to gauge their activity in class.  His child is so fit, she is looked down upon by the teachers who may be under the impression that she is not doing anything when in fact the child has great fitness stamina and heart rate. 

In case you missed this story released recently by the group, Mission: Readiness (Military Leaders for Kids) nearly 1 in 3 young adults are too fat for the military according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1/3 of American kids are considered obese or overweight.

What is this statistical news telling us of our future first responder applicants?

Did you know that 34.9% (78.6 million) Americans over age 20 are obese? The Journal of American Medical (JAMA) indicates that obese is defined as 30% BMI (fat on the body).

We have seen reports of our active and reserve military personnel dealing with the weight issues and the problems such as stress compound injuries to their bodies in the combat zones.  Many are being dismissed due to their inability to maintain fitness during their tours of duty.

Dispatchers Rock!!!

Safe Call Now® Peer Advocate & Dispatcher Angee Bunk

What did you want to be when you grew up? If you are like most, you wanted to be a cop, firefighter, doctor, or astronaut. No one dreams about being a 911 dispatcher or call receiver. They are just a voice on the other end of the line, not a real person right? Well, that may be different now that Halle Berry has made it glamorous with her movie, “The Call”. I mean who wouldn’t want to take a call from a kidnapping victim, go rogue, save the girl, and solve the crime?! 

So how does one get into the 911 business? I had dreams of being a cop and used 911 to get my foot in the law enforcement door. Fast forward 17 plus years and I’m still here! I came to the realization that being on this side of the radio keeps me warm, dry, and (most importantly) alive! I do, however, still get to be part of the action.