911 Emergency Dispatchers

I. JOB SUMMARY

Main Topic: Places and Regions
Secondary Topic: Human Geography

Overview: Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers or public safety telecommunicators respond to emergency calls from 9-1-1 or alarm systems. Dispatchers must determine the type of emergency, the location, and the appropriate responders. They also need to relay important information to first responders, give basic instructions to callers, monitor the status of responders, and keep detail records. Dispatchers must remain calm to collect vital information. They use computers to keep records and determine the location of emergencies. The majority of dispatchers work for local and state government, but can also work for universities or hospitals. Initial training required and ongoing training maybe required depending on the work environment. Many states also require a certificate. Police, fire, and ambulance dispatchers’ job prospects are projected to grow with population growth.

Geographers at work: Human geographers, Health geographers, GIS specialists,

Recommended College Courses: Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems, Advanced GIS, Urban geography, Community and regional planning, Cities and urban design, GPS and GIS,

Skills: GIS, geospatial technology, human resource management, location analysis, communication, decision-making,

Occupation Group: Protective Service

Learn more about Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/office-and-administrative-support/police-fire-and-ambulance-dispatchers.htm