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Episode 126 is different from the rest. It’s the introduction to Within the Trenches – Imagine Listening, an extension of the podcast featuring stories from the #IAM911 movement. What you are about to hear are true stories. While some have good outcomes, the majority are horrifying. A warning…if you suffer from PTSD or have suicidal tendencies this episode may be a trigger. LISTEN AT YOUR OWN RISK.
This episode also touches on PTSD in 9-1-1 dispatch and a look at the dark humor that comes with the job. A shout out goes to Dave, Tim and Amy of Darkness Radio for having me on their show. Below you will find links to my interview and a shout out to Mike of Sword & Scale for having me on episode #82 of his podcast. As always if you have any questions or want to be a guest on show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.
Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship – Web
Sword and Scale – Facebook | iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Twitter | Web | Episode #82
Darkness Radio – Facebook | Twitter | Web | Interview – Hour 1 | Interview – Hour 2
Episode topics –
- Imagine Listening featuring #IAM911 Stories
- PTSD in 9-1-1 Dispatch
- Dark Humor
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Within the Trenches Ep 79
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Good morning and welcome back to another episode of Within the Trenches. This is going to be episode 79 and I’m going a little out of order but after recording episode 80, a milestone for the show, I had to post it up right away. Steve of Fairfax County 911 out of Virginia had an excellent story and if you haven’t listened to it yet, you need to. Today’s episode was going to be with Misti, a dispatcher and admin for “911 Dispatchers – Did I Really Say That?” but we had to reschedule so she will be on for a future episode and I look forward to that. My guest today is a good friend of mine and has been on the show before. He is the North Central Regional Director for National NENA and the Director of Vigo county out of Indiana.In this episode we covered several silly and or ridiculous calls and shared some stories of our own. Below you will find the link to all the calls we referenced from the news affiliates. As always, if you have any questions or would like to be a guest on the show you can send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com
KTUU – Ridiculous 911 calls
Episode topics –
- Suck it call
- Vampire Call
- Seagull Call
- And more
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Within the Trenches Ep 98
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Welcome to episode 98 of Within the Trenches. A lot has been going on lately and I can’t make any announcements yet but as soon as I get the green light I will do so. Now along with that there are some big things coming up and I know the National NENA conference is a few months away but I can’t help but mention that the podcast will be better than ever. I’m working on a scholarship for one lucky dispatcher. The scholarship will include a full registration, travel stipend and a couple others things but complete details and open registration will not come out until early next month. If you have never been to a conference, this is your chance.A couple t-shirt campaigns are coming up as well and a portion of the proceeds will go to that scholarship so when it hits make sure to order your shirt, it’s going to an excellent cause. And in case you’re wondering the shirt campaigns will include the Sons and Daughters of Dispatch design that I posted on Facebook and Twitter. Today’s episode is going to cover a hot topic on the skewed public perception of dispatch along with how much we do and how it can affect us. We also share a couple of videos on dispatcher tasks from Facebook Page “Inside the Fire: A Page For First Responders” and “The Operator” by Bridge the Divide Media. Joining me for this episode are a few of my admins from the podcast fan page, Shae, Victoria and Kelli.
This is a must listen so check it out and share! As always if you have any questions or you would like to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. Below you will find links to the videos mentioned in this podcast.
Episode topics –
- Skewed public perception of dispatch
- Dispatch bashing
- Dispatch Stories
- Inside the Fire: A Page for First Responders – “Dispatcher Tasks”
- Bridge the Divide Media – “The Operator”
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The AudioVillains Ep 50
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All I can say is that this is an epic episode and you are going to laugh your ass off!
HI Ricardo,
I’ve listened to a couple of your podcasts now. Thanks for helping to bring attention to the battle to change our job description. When APCO put out the word, I posted a story and forwarded the links on my social media pages. I first started dispatching in 1981 (ems) after learning to work to the radio to cover in dispatch (I was an EMT) and changed to 911 in 1987. Seen some changes over the years. Had some real nasty calls during my career. I even wrote a book about the profession (“What is your emergency? The history of Public Safety Dispatching in America”).
One of my busiest shifts, I handled simultaneous in-progress evens by myself: a barricaded subject on my main channel and a demonstration on my secondary. I’ve worked shifts where I ran back & forth from the bathroom (had a massive migraine but was by myself), had to deal with the passing away of my mother-in-law (again, by myself), and dealt with more craziness (spent 14 of my years in Berkeley – CA- than I can remember). I now handle LE for a wildlife department. A different type of stress.
Keep up the good work on our behalf.
Diana Sprain
http://www.dianasprain.net/
I heard about you through S&S.; I get it. I do. I have been an Animal Control officer for nearing 20 years. I work in conjunction with Police at accident scenes, death scenes, search warrants/dynamic entry, responding to animal incidents of aggression and vehicle collision. We work alone handling calls that can be dangerous, heated and emotional.
I have taken animals from long term death of Humans, suicides of owner and owner and pet. I have aided and been with animals as they die on our roadways, providing a pet the comfort of Human compassion so they do not die alone and scared. I deal with where Humans have failed their pets and only to be called “Nazi” or “dog killer”. All the while I feel there is not a better person who could do this job.
PTSD, I am not sure as I learn to compartmentalize my work. Maybe. On my days off, I don’t really want to be social outside of my home, I am but I have to push myself to do it. I get questions like you describe about the bad stuff. Too much to list really as the Human and animal tragedy intertwine.
Dark humor? Sure. It’s a coping mechanism. If I didn’t make light of what I see, it would eat me up, I think.
I tell those new to this job that there is no finish line. You will not be able to stand back and look over a job well done. It will be the same thing happening everyday for the duration of your career. Many of things will be stressful and emotional. Regards.