For however long we are an Emergency Dispatcher, we are committed to the job. It might be because we feel a calling, the job sounds interesting, or some think there’s some cachet to being an Emergency Dispatcher. We may be in it to help people—the No. 1 answer given during interviews when the interviewee is asked why they want this job. We know it’s not the money; we’re not paid what we’re worth. Still, we do it.
How you do your job and what you get from it comes down to you. Did you know that the time you’re living in now will be the “good ol’ days” in about 10 years? Our industry is in a period of massive growth, both in need of our services and with technological advances. What about the human factor? What about you, how you feel, and how you will survive this runaway train of madness? One helpful tip is to collect moments. Moments help to keep you going; they also give you something positive to remember.
So, what is a moment? It’s something that made you smile or laugh that you make the effort to retain in your long-term memory. It’s remembering when a co-worker lined up dry erase markers like bowling pins and handed you a stress ball. Impromptu bowling. It’s thinking about the time you and another co-worker spent five minutes talking about the Wordle word. Memories of playing interactive games with each other. You need these moments.
When our department had roll calls, sometimes I would print out the most unusual 911 calls and have the Emergency Dispatchers read them aloud and discuss how they would handle it as a calltaker. One of those memorable moments was watching an Emergency Dispatcher try to read aloud about a drunk, naked man who folded himself up into a clothes dryer and got stuck. She was laughing as hard as her co-workers, especially when she read the witness description, “It was like the dryer was giving birth.” People remember those moments.
How can you create those moments? Find the humor or the bright spot in something. Some co-workers went to an exercise class together and later that night while working the midnight shift, they all commiserated on how much they overdid their legs and couldn’t move. Three people groaning every time they had to use their legs and one person watching them while seeing the humor in the situation. If your agency allows it, watch a movie, sporting event, or any show as a group with everyone providing commentary.
One of our Emergency Dispatchers retired and instead of a shadow box or a party, her friend collected favorite memories and sayings involving that person from her co-workers and then created a book. What an amazing present. It gave her something to look back on and smile. It was just as much fun for the contributors to write out these moments as it was for the recipient to receive the book. You are already creating moments every day without realizing it. Take a second to appreciate the days of laughter, the silly calls, and the positive happenings. Remember them because they will help your mental health. Humor is just as contagious as negativity.
There was an instance where all the Emergency Dispatchers in one area were laughing so hard they were crying. A manager half-jokingly said I needed to get them under control. The radios were silent, the people taking calls weren’t close, and they were having a good time. I said no, I’d rather have them laughing when nothing major’s happening than complaining. Let them have their moment.
Write down your moments in a little notebook so you can look back on them in the future. You never know when you’re going to need a laugh or a dose of positivity.
