Dispatchers, the unsung heroes of the emergency services, often have to deal with intense emotional situations. Brandy Dahlin, a dispatcher who has been in her role for 17 years, can attest to this. She recalls a particularly harrowing call when she had to help a woman give CPR to her husband. Even after all these years, Dahlin still needed a moment to process the emotional toll of that experience.
It’s not just Dahlin who feels this way. Ashly Madrid-Ulrich, another dispatcher who has been in her role for eight years, also recognizes the emotional strain that comes with being a dispatcher. The job requires people to deal with intense situations and topics that can deeply affect them.
Both Dahlin and Madrid-Ulrich emphasize the importance of coping mechanisms for dispatchers to manage work-related stress. Some turn to exercise, meditation or therapy. Despite the challenges they face, they continue in their roles because of their compassion for those in need.
It’s not always easy for dispatchers when people on the other end of the line forget that they are human too. Despite facing insults and misunderstandings, they strive to provide the best assistance possible.
Dispatchers may be overlooked by many people but their role is crucial in emergency services operations. They work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure that first responders are dispatched quickly and efficiently so that lives can be saved. Their job is demanding and emotionally taxing but they do it with courage and compassion because they know how important it is in helping others through difficult times.
