by Dena Foulk

Created on: January 31, 2009   Last Updated: February 21, 2009

Condider becoming an Emergency Medical Dispatcher. There are many wonderful, talented EMD's, some have been doing it for years and still others who are taking classes now. EMD's are an intricate part of Emergency Medical Services. (EMS)

If you are looking for a very rewarding career, you should defiantly consider becoming an EMD. The only problem is, you have to be able to see your own self worth. It is not a job where you will receive formal recognition. As a matter of fact, most people forget about the job you do completely.

When the 'atta-boys' are passed out after an emergency, when the Paramedics and EMTs are getting their backs patted, when the 'thank-you' cards sent out, and when it is time for recognition awards, no one thinks about the dispatcher. It is a very rare thing that anyone even considers the job that you do. So I am going to tell you some of what they do.

When your spouse is having a heart attack and you pick up the phone and dial 911. You are talking to a real person on the other end. Someone who can hear the panic in your voice, a calming voice that can help guide YOU into saving the life of your loved one.

When you find you son or daughter floating in the pool and you are so upset that you can not even think straight, there is a person on the other end of the phone line who is there to help you. When you are screaming, and calling the dispatcher names, that person will calmly assure you that help is on the way. A compassionate, caring person who hears the most horrible things. Imagine sitting in a chair, talking to a completely panic stricken, distraught, angry, or even violent person, and doing it for hours on end. Always speaking calm to a storm.

Dispatchers are talking to people who are experiencing the absolute worst, most traumatic moment in their lives, and they are doing it with dignity and a genuine desire to help.

Also keep in mind, that while they are guiding the caller in whatever emergency they are experiencing, that dispatcher is also alerting the ambulance crew of the location and nature of the emergency. They are coordinating any support departments such as the fire department, police department and/or rescue crews. They are in charge of relaying information that they are gathering from the caller to the crew and making sure that the scene they are sending THEIR crew into is safe. Can you imagine trying to explain to someone, over the telephone, how to perform CPR. And doing it in a way that the caller will understand. The caller

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