Emergency Services 911 Dispatch and Emergency Communications 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does 'CAD' stand for in emergency communications centers?
- Computer-Aided Dispatch (Correct answer)
- Communications Alert Database
- Centralized Automated Dispatch
- Crisis Action Dashboard
Correct answer: Computer-Aided Dispatch
CAD (Computer-Aided Dispatch) systems are software platforms that assist dispatchers in logging calls, managing units, and tracking resources.
Question 2: What is the NATO phonetic alphabet used for in emergency communications?
- Communicating with foreign governments
- Spelling out letters clearly over radio to avoid misunderstandings (Correct answer)
- Encrypting sensitive transmissions
- Training new dispatchers
Correct answer: Spelling out letters clearly over radio to avoid misunderstandings
The NATO phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie...) ensures that individual letters are clearly understood over radio, preventing dangerous miscommunications.
Question 3: What does 'Priority Dispatch' (MPDS) ensure in EMS dispatching?
- Fastest possible ambulance response for all calls
- Structured call-taking protocols that guide callers in pre-arrival care and assign appropriate response levels (Correct answer)
- Ensuring police always arrive before EMS
- All dispatch decisions are made by a physician
Correct answer: Structured call-taking protocols that guide callers in pre-arrival care and assign appropriate response levels
Medical Priority Dispatch System (MPDS) uses structured protocols to guide dispatchers in assessing call severity and providing pre-arrival instructions.
Question 4: Which US law governs confidentiality of 911 call recordings?
- They are always public record under FOIA
- Varies by state; some states treat them as public records while others protect them under privacy laws (Correct answer)
- Federal law requires all recordings be released within 30 days
- All 911 recordings are permanently sealed
Correct answer: Varies by state; some states treat them as public records while others protect them under privacy laws
911 call recording access varies by state law; many states treat them as public records while others limit release to protect privacy or ongoing investigations.
Question 5: What is 'ProQA' software used for in dispatch?
- Quality assurance scoring of dispatch performance
- Guiding dispatchers through MPDS protocol scripts for medical, fire, and police calls (Correct answer)
- Tracking response times for compliance reporting
- Managing dispatcher shift schedules
Correct answer: Guiding dispatchers through MPDS protocol scripts for medical, fire, and police calls
ProQA is the software platform that runs MPDS protocols, guiding dispatchers through structured interrogation and pre-arrival instruction scripts.
Question 6: What is 'tone-out' in fire department dispatching?
- Ending a radio channel transmission
- A series of tones broadcast over radio to alert and wake up on-call or sleeping firefighters for a response (Correct answer)
- A signal that an incident is under control
- A system for testing radio equipment daily
Correct answer: A series of tones broadcast over radio to alert and wake up on-call or sleeping firefighters for a response
Tone-out uses a unique sequence of audio tones to alert specific fire stations or crews to an incoming dispatch, especially for volunteer departments.
Emergency Services 911 Dispatch and Emergency Communications 2
What does 'CAD' stand for in emergency communications centers?