When an emergency happens locally, you can be sure the dispatcher sending you assistance knows the area.
Liam Vanderbraak, the union president for our local emergency dispatchers, says next week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.
He gave myFM a glimpse into the job his team does everyday, watching over requests for emergency services like ambulance and fire for all of Renfrew County, as well as South Algonquin Township and most of Algonquin park.
When you dial 9-1-1, Vanderbraak explains that the call goes to a central emergency routing bureau who will ask if you need police, fire, or ambulance. For example: if a call for an ambulance is made, it will then transfer to his team who will then gather important information such as the caller’s location, the number they’re calling from, and the details on the emergency it self.
At the same time as they’re gathering that info, another dispatcher in the same room will determine which ambulance is closest to the emergency and then notifies the paramedics on duty to respond.
The 12 hours shifts his team located in Renfrew perform allow for 24/7 coverage 365 days a year, and are not without their fair share of multi-tasking.
With time of the essence in virtually every instance of an emergency call, Vanderbraak says his team understands the need for speed.
Outside of their pace, our local dispatch team is also able to provide life-saving first-aid instructions over the phone, including on how to deliver babies, perform CPR or abdominal thrusts for someone who is choking, use epi-pens and more.
While the National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week runs April 9th through to the 15th, Vanderbraak says that most all in his position aren’t doing for the recognition but rather that performing the job is the reward in itself.
He also says that while there is always a need for more dispatchers, the best way to get your foot in the door might actually be to get to know someone at the local office who can refer you when an open position turns up.
That being said, Vanderbraak notes that if you’ve ever had a desire to help the community, becoming a dispatcher is the way to do it.
(written by Kasey Egan)
