Some of the least appreciated members of the emergency response team are the communications specialists (in some venues, termed dispatchers). How do I know this? First, I served as a communications specialist (my job title was dispatcher) early in my career and I was routinely subjected to criticism and ridicule from responders because the information I shared with them wasn\u2019t always accurate \u2013 like I was giving them misinformation on purpose.
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\nSecond, in my situational awareness classes I often hear the same criticism of communications specialists I endured almost 30 years ago. I would like to offer some perspective on communications specialists and the critical role they can play in forming and maintaining situational awareness for responders.
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\nIntro music
\nSafety Dance (1982)
\nMen Without Hats
\nGMC - Virgin Records
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\nSituational Awareness Matters! website
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\nFirefighter Near Miss Reporting System
\nhttp://www.firefighternearmiss.com/
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\nContact Rich Gasaway
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\n612-548-4424