Reading Police Dispatchers, One Step Ahead

The voice you hear when you call 911, a police dispatcher, could be the voice that will save your life. In Reading, the dispatchers are trained in CPR and Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD), which is more training than dispatchers in other Massachusetts towns.

"Dispatchers are the first responders, first on the scene, but verbally so we can provide life saving instructions prior to the police and firefighters getting there," Reading Dispatcher Victoria Avery said.

If you are in a serious situation that cannot wait for an EMT, firefighter or police officer, dispatchers are trained to aid you in the moments before help arrives.

The dispatchers working at the  help callers with various emergencies. In addition to their training, they use a flip chart to help them through thousands of possible scenarios. A mandatory training starting this summer will bring other dispatchers up to speed, and police departments will all now use the flip charts that Reading dispatchers utilize everyday, according to CBS Boston. However, Reading will still be a step ahead. Starting this summer, they will have a computer system to help them when they are handling emergencies.

"The computer system will streamline the process for all telecommunications," Avery said. 

The computer system will be equivalent to, if not faster than the flip chart, she said, and there will be less chance of human error. The computer will allow you to enter the details of the emergency and it will provide you with instructions on how to proceed.