en en en en en es en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en
First-responders are justly praised and respected for their dedicated work on the front lines of our emergencies. Less noticed, but just as important to the process, are the dispatchers who act as the intermediaries between the public and the first-responders. A good, well-trained dispatcher can mean the difference between life and death.
But in Washington County’s 911 center, dispatchers say they are working long hours for low pay, conditions that obviously discourage employee retention.
An employee might have to work an 18-hour shift and then return six hours later to begin another — a work schedule that harkens back to the times of Charles Dickens.
Dispatchers and management agree that vacant positions are a problem, although the exact number is in dispute. Further, new hires are often unfamiliar with the county. In one recording, a dispatcher was apparently unaware that “the ARCC” is shorthand for the name of Hagerstown Community College’s gymnasium.
The HCC situation further points out the need for double-checking the geolocation of emergency calls on cellphones as a standard procedure. Even an imprecise reference to a cell tower can narrow the area of the county for an emergency dispatcher.
A Next Generation 911 system that is expected to provide more precise geolocations is probably still a year or two away from installation, according to R. David Hays, director of the Washington County Division of Emergency Services.
In the meantime, we would like to see Washington County Commissioners revisit funding for the 911 center.
Adding staff and implementing competitive salaries for these crucial positions should not have to wait. That would be tempting fate.
We acknowledge that it is easy to throw taxpayer dollars around and more difficult to find ways to stretch those dollars to cover multiple priorities. However, assurances of reliable emergency services need to rise to the top of any priority list.
The cost of not doing so is no less than putting lives at risk. A fast response in an emergency situation can be the difference between life and death.
Careers Staff Directory Accessibility Site Map Legals Our Ethical Principles Terms of Service Privacy Policy Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy PolicyDo Not Sell My Info / Cookie Policy
Contact Us Support Local Business Advertise Your Business Advertising Terms and Conditions Licensing & Reprints Help Center Subscriber Guide My Account Give Feedback