iluvtofly 0 #26 November 17, 2008 Here's a question....why is it ok for EMT's, Paramedics, Firefighters and Police Officers to work 24's but it's not OK for a dispatcher? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #27 November 17, 2008 Its not OK for LEO's to work 24s in many departments. In fact it incurs such a high amount of liability a majority of departments have policies in place that an officer can't work more than 16 hours in any 24 hour period with out special approval an assistant chief or similar. That is internal and external liability due to the Officer's ability to correctly function at such a deprived state. This is also due to past law suits in the LEO world in regards to civilians suing departments, cities and individual Officers. EMS/FD crews, outside of private and commercially owned services, will work a 24 hour on schedule, that also includes crew rotations for the trucks and ambulances to prevent any single person from working 24hrs straight with no breaks or sleep (as you bragged about). This is also due to the incurred liability, not to mention the overall health of their men and women. Go back and read my last post. You'll see the second half talking about attitudes. Maybe you should see that I'm talking more about an attitude of the dispatcher then their ability to do a severely extended shift!--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iluvtofly 0 #28 November 17, 2008 I can understand your concern about my attidude. What you don't see is how when a call comes in I do a complete 180. During the down time (such as now and the past several hours) I try to relax as much as possible. But once the plectron goes off or the phone rings it's all seriousness. I also act a bit goofier online than I am in real life (I mean really...how many people are EXACTLY the same in real life as they are on the internet.) DZ.com is pretty much my only human interaction while I'm in dispatch. The only time there is more than 1 person in dispatch is from 1000 to 1800 Mon thru Fri...the rest of the time you're all by your lonesome. The crews aren't even alowed to come up and chit-chat when there's nothing going on because of past problems. And yes...we are a privately owned service so we may do things a bit differently. But, as I've said before I plan on sleeping/napping after the midnight crew change occures. And I know some people freak out about sleeping on the job. But between my cot being very uncomfortable and my subconscious not letting me fully fall asleep I wake up to not only the phone or plectron going off, but the fax machine has been known to wake me up. If I didn't feel I could safely do this extra shift tonight I would have said no. And dispatchers working 24's are not at all common. As I said in my first post this will be the first time since this place opened in 1996 that a dispatcher has ever worked a 24 hour shift. I don't think they'll be making a habit out of it anytime soon either. My one supervisor is not at all happy that it's happening. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Beerlight 0 #29 November 17, 2008 Quote My one supervisor is not at all happy that it's happening. Dayum! Hopefully they are paying you overtime??? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iluvtofly 0 #30 November 17, 2008 Yes...I will be getting overtime for this. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #31 November 17, 2008 QuoteThe only time there is more than 1 person in dispatch is from 1000 to 1800 Mon thru Fri... QuoteMy one supervisor is not at all happy that it's happening. Then maybe your supervisor should man-up (or woman-up) and be a leader (instead of a simple manager, as it seems), take at least part of your shift away from you to help prevent any sort of possible serious problems. Quote And dispatchers working 24's are not at all common. I know its not common. I also know its a serious issue. That is what got me so worked up in the first place. I want my dispatchers 100% since my life depends on them getting the correct information to me, from the RP, in a very quick manner. Making even simple mistakes can cost lives, including my own and my brothers working the streets with me.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iluvtofly 0 #32 November 17, 2008 And as I said before I can understand your concern. But also as I've said I work on both sides of the fence. I know what it's like to be dependent on the dispatchers for correct information. I may be joking about this online but I do take my job very seriously. I know people's lives are in my hands (either directly or indirectly). Also keep in mind...I live in the middle of nowhere Pennsyltucky. Not exactly the bustling metropolise of a big city. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #33 November 17, 2008 Quote Also keep in mind...I live in the middle of nowhere Pennsyltucky. Not exactly the bustling metropolise of a big city. So? The same sorts of calls happen to people who deserve just as good of a response as they would get in down town Megatropolis!--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iluvtofly 0 #34 November 17, 2008 I understand that I'm just saying smaller per capita fewer calls in general. I can't count the number of times I've worked a 16 hour shift without a single call. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #35 November 17, 2008 You're more than capable of kicking ass tonight. Dave, go test your taser on yourself. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #36 November 17, 2008 Quote I can't count the number of times I've worked a 16 hour shift without a single call. Wow. Even more of a reason to be vigilant. You'll have to go from zero to off-the-chain with no lead-up! I seriously can't remember a day that didn't leave me a couple of reports down at the end of shift because there wasn't enough time in the day. There are other barometers to my days that involve types of calls and situations that have tended to happen on every shift for the last 12-months or so, but those are best told over a couple of beers...so maybe some other time.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AggieDave 6 #37 November 17, 2008 Quote You're more than capable of kicking ass tonight. Dave, go test your taser on yourself. Get on the other side of the radio and you'll understand my adamant concern.--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cocheese 0 #38 November 17, 2008 Roger that. 5150 over and out. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iluvtofly 0 #39 November 17, 2008 Quote You're more than capable of kicking ass tonight. Dave, go test your taser on yourself. Why thank you cheesy. And Dave...I've worked those shifts as well. It does suck. But I also feel that my boss wouldn't be letting me do this if he didn't have at least some confidence in me. After all...I'm not the one girl who used to work here and would litterally sleep through calls. The one morning I came in and she was so sound asleep that she didn't wake up until I dropped a really big book on the counter right beside her head. I'm a bitch I know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iluvtofly 0 #40 November 17, 2008 Quote Quote You're more than capable of kicking ass tonight. Dave, go test your taser on yourself. Get on the other side of the radio and you'll understand my adamant concern. There's concern on this side of the radio as well. The other morning I about had a heart attack cause a crew took forever to get in the truck and when they got on scene they discovered that the PT wasn't breathing. Not good. And they wonder why I get pissed if they don't go running to the truck. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #41 November 17, 2008 Quote I can't even leave the little room I'm in. ...so your neighbor brings you a big bowl of chili and you thank them? They should have brought you an empty milk jug and a funnel. My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
iluvtofly 0 #42 November 17, 2008 Well fortunately there is a small bathroom in this little room. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
