What questions will I be asked when I dial 9-1-1 in a medical emergency?
To ensure that the right people with the right equipment are sent to the correct location, the dispatcher must ask you specific questions. It is important to remember that trained dispatchers never ask questions that are unnecessary, and that all of the questions being asked help to determine the level of help that you need.
On all EMD calls you will be asked a set of questions known as Entry Questions.
- What's the address of the emergency?
- What's the phone number you're calling from?
- What's the problem - tell me exactly what happened?
- How old is he or she?
- Is he or she conscious?
- Is he or she breathing?
By answering these questions, the dispatcher is able to determine the chief complaint such as chest pain or breathing problems. At this point the dispatcher will ask you a second series of short questions unique to your situation which will determine if the ambulance will be responding with lights and sirens and if they will need any special equipment once they arrive on scene.
In all cases, remember the most important thing you can do when calling 9-1-1 is to LISTEN CAREFULLY and REMAIN CALM. Always do whatever the dispatcher asks you to do. Every question asked is part of their protocol and has an important reason.
EMD Quality AssuranceEMD is not always easy; it takes training and practice. Red River Regional Dispatch Center wants all of its employees to do a good job with EMD. As a result, a quality assurance process was implemented to maintain continuous feedback. Supervisors listen to and evaluate EMD calls and are able to give feedback to employees about areas they are doing well in and ways to improve their service to the community that we serve.
