×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Communicating, But Not Too Much

What we have here is not a failure to communicate. Instead, there may be too much communication.

When fires break out, vehicles crash, people suffer medical crises or crimes are committed, first responders need to be sent to the scene of the trouble quickly.

In most places, including Marshall County, that involves calls to a 911 center from which help is dispatched.

Recently, fire chiefs in the county received letters from county Commissioners John Gruzinskas, Bob Miller and Scott Varner. The letters stated commissioners had been told some firefighters “are calling in to the dispatch center during an event to question or even reprimand our telecommunicators as they are trying to handle calls.”

Obviously, that could lead to problems. Dispatchers need to focus on the tasks at hand, not on other phone calls. “From this point forward our dispatchers will not entertain calls from any volunteer fire or (emergency medical) personnel,” the letters advised. Information from such contacts, including callers’ names and their agencies, will be forwarded to dispatchers’ superiors, commissioners stated. Emergencies can be communicated to county 911 Director Larry Newell immediately by cellphone.

During their meeting this week, commissioners were told by Fire Association President Jeff Kady said the letters took him by surprise. He said he had instructed firefighters not to call 911 dispatchers, but to leave that up to their officers in charge.

And, Kady added, a complete ban on communications between individual first responders and dispatchers could create problems. “We need to have access at times for clarification purposes when we are answering a call,” he explained.

Clearly, too much communication on one hand needs to be addressed by more in another way. As Kady suggested, the problem needs to be discussed by his group and the 911 center.

Commissioners should ensure such discussions take place — and solve the problem.

Firefighters are accustomed to taking the proverbial bull by the horns — acting immediately when someone needs help — and that is a very good thing. Still, this is a situation in which going through an intermediary for contacts with 911 dispatchers may avoid confusion that could prove harmful.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today