City Commits to EMD Training for All Calltakers

A Cincinnati (Ohio) city council member has introduced a regulation that would require all dispatchers to be trained for emergency medical dispatch (EMD) before they can answer 911 calls. The amendment to the city’s employment regulations was sparked by a local TV reporter’s investigation of mandatory overtime in the comm center. Not all dispatchers are certified on EMD, and when a dispatcher must work overtime to fill an empty position, a non-certified may find themselves fielding 911 calls. “Never again,” vows council member Charlie Winburn, who introduced the proposed regulation. Read more here, and download (pdf) proposed regulation here. Watch a TV news report after the break.