521 replies to this topic

[Wkboy714]

Over here in Britain, paramedics sometimes need to enter a crashed vehicle to stabilise a suspect whilst firefighters remove the roof. Due to the close proximity to powerful cutting equipment, metal, broken glass, as well as any sharp or protruding parts that might occur in a car wreck, I see it as common sense to stick a helmet on...

[Ace]

Oh that makes sense..I've only seen firefighter stabalize and paramedics just help from outside the car..Where I live

 

Are you allowed to eat while being on dispatch duty?

Swallowing food to take a call might be the split second you need

[Wkboy714]

I don't know, however I would imagine no, as eating during a call could hinder communication and waste vital time, plus distract the operator. They would probably have to wait for whenever their break is, or ask to be relieved.

[Handsup!]

I'm guessing possibly a quick snack would be OK, and i'm guessing a drink too because a cop needs to stay hydrated.

[999madtom]

Are you allowed to eat while being on dispatch duty?

Probaly but it is not encouraged and it depends what your eating (if its a chocolate bar probaly but if its anything else lager/dirtier no) 

[Ace]

What do you do when your dispatching and someones speaking in an unknown language?

[Fred03]

In the larger cities their is a translator on staff, smaller dispatches have a number they can call for translation. (I believe, not sure on this one)

[MCERT1]

In the larger cities their is a translator on staff, smaller dispatches have a number they can call for translation. (I believe, not sure on this one)

There is a service called language line. It's a 1-800 number we call with the 911 caller on the line, and they are able to provide us with a translator for just about any language under the sun. Even if we don't know what language we need, they have persons who can determine it by listening. However, if you have a large foreign language community, you normally have at least one person around that can fumble their way through a call. I've been on calls with people speaking various languages and often there is enough understanding to determine roughly what they need.

 

It's part of the reason that I've made a point to learn fire, police, and ambulance in a lot of languages...

 

As for eating on duty, yes you are allowed to, and often have to. I work 12 hours at my desk each shift. When there aren't calls i can run to the bathroom, cook food, and walk around a little bit. The second the phone starts ringing I stop and assist the other dispatchers.You learn to eat foods that take only a few bites to eat, and can be put down easily. You also have to get used to letting food get cold, or spitting it out to take a call. It stinks, but it's part of the job.

[Ace]

Do kicking open doors actually work like in the movies?

 

[999madtom]

I have seen it done before but he needed a few kicks at the door.

[met police999]

it just depends on the door so yes and no that's the answer most of the time a hard kick into the lock of the door if it and the frame is wood it'll fly open

[Fred03]

It can be done, depending on the type of door, most folks who do entry use a ram just to make sure.

[Ace]

(police)

What if there's a guy who constantly flags your car down only to ask for a ride. I know police isn't a taxi service...but your job is to "help" people and be a public servant and you can't just leave a guy there...

 

2.

Is robbery in progress a code 3 because if you use sirens, the criminal will run. If you don't, you might catch them. If there's someone being robbed maybe you have to use sirens to scare the suspect away

 

offtopic; I just watched how it's made:whelen lights http://www.youtube.c...h?v=JlKQjs6JCcY and it was so in depth!

[Ace]

Would a tazer have the same affect if you shot someone point blank with it?

[Handsup!]

Would a tazer have the same affect if you shot someone point blank with it?

 

I believe it would. It is just electrical charge coming through the wires of the actual cartridge.

[MCERT1]

Would a tazer have the same affect if you shot someone point blank with it?

 

yep

 

A lot of models can be used as a stun guns (without shooting out the prongs). The only things that will really alters their effectiveness are drugs and alcohol.

[theocd]

Or a thick jumper

 

The OC-D

[Ace]

Should people dial fire if they see a huge cloud of black smoke?

I see many youtube videos of fires and a huge smoke forming and wondered, wouldn't there be so many calls to 911 because people see smoke? most of the time the fire depts already there...

[MCERT1]

As a general rule of thumb, it's better to be safe than sorry. We get a lot of calls about the same accidents and fires, I think my record was something around 25 calls in less than 2 minutes. Sometimes we get them after fire department crews are already on location (which I always find kind of funny). The dispatcher will liekly try to figure out where you're seeing the smoke from, and if they aren't aware of the source, they'll send a crew to investigate. Normally it's very easy for us to figure out if it is an ongoing call, or some sort of controlled burn, which in my area has to be called into our dispatch center.  It's a pretty normal occurrence for us because the government will burn huge tracks of marshland,to prevent uncontrolled fires.

[Ace]

Do you have to once be a constable to become a detective or SWAT member?

 

What happens if there's a bomb threat at dispatch central, police, fire, ems stations all at once?

Would the city go into chaos

 

Why do firetrucks always come with ambulances?

Because they're trained in first aid and to assist with manpower.

Why do firetrucks come with ambulances when police are already on scene with the ambulance?

I don't know, police are trained in first aid and can offer manpower too...