EMS then verses now

Recently I had to take an ambulance ride. The experience gave me flashbacks to the time when I was on the opposite side of the gurney. Wow...emergency medical services have come a long way from when I worked in the field.

Let's start with the start of the service. Today's ambulances are a far cry from the vehicles I worked in. My first unit was a converted suburban. I was 'fortunate' enough to get transferred to a Cadillac within a month, then shortly after to a low-top van. The goal of EMTs at our company was the high-top van.

The Lady of Shalott - which version do you like?

I'm not a huge fan of poetry but I have developed a taste for some poets. One of authors I like is the renown Lord Alfred Lord Tennyson. He was a prolific writer and even folks who hate poetry (I was one of those) have probably heard of his works. The Lady of Shalott has two versions. Lovers of New Age music will recognize the revised version since Loreena McKennitt turned it into a haunting song. Tennyson also penned the famous "The Charge of the Light Brigade". 

In the "Lady", the first version made extensive use of 'flowery' language.  In the second writing, Tennyson toned it down somewhat. I think he was criticized by family and/or friends and chose to make the changes for readability. Which do you prefer? Why do you think he made the changes? Regardless, I still love this poem.

Nevada POST working on Mandate for Dispatcher training

The process has been slow but it is getting there. A bill is winding it's way through the Nevada Legislature to make it mandatory for all law enforcement dispatchers to be trained and certified through POST. The first hurdle was getting POST (Peace Officer Standards and Training) to accept that Dispatchers needed to have a minimal training. After the meetings were successful, personnel went to the NV State Congress to find a sponsor. As you see below, we have one.


2017
Certification of Law Enforcement Dispatchers
Status: Pending - Assembly Government Affairs Committee ...(tharr be more)
Date of Last Action:* 2/13/2017
Author: Carlton (D)
Topics: 9-1-1 Other/Miscellaneous
Summary: Provides for the certification of law enforcement dispatchers.
History: Click for History
02/13/2017 - INTRODUCED.
02/13/2017 - Prefiled pursuant to JSR 14.2.1(d).
02/13/2017 - To ASSEMBLY Committee on GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS.



Why do we (Dispatchers) want this?

Think! Respectability comes with requirements of certification and training. We as a profession must start somewhere. Just having the two-year NCIC/NCJIS is not enough. For those who offer pre-arrival medical instruction (EMD), you are required to have CPR and EMD training, plus annual continuing education. Departments must provide that to you. How many of your agencies give you to the chance at other training once you've finished your basic orientation? POST certification is the first step for many NV Dispatchers.

I know Nevadans hate being compared to Californians but I remember when Dispatchers in CA started getting POST certification through POST. At first, it was just the basics: Basic Dispatcher, Civilian Training Officer, and Civilian Supervisor.  However that changes after the late 80's when the State held focus groups for Dispatchers to see what types of training programs we wanted and soon we had Fire Dispatcher, Tactical Dispatcher, and Advanced Dispatcher. Now there is a catalog of courses for Dispatchers.

Think about that: an entire catalog of courses specifically for Telecommunicators.

We could have that in Nevada.

Go to the below link. Click on share your opinion. Scroll down and look for bill 151.


http://asm.leg.state.nv.us/Assembly/


Stay safe out there!