Crisis Management & Decision-Making Flashcards
7 cards from real CED practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Crisis Management & Decision-Making flashcards as text
A caller reports a gas leak in a commercial building with people still inside. The dispatcher should advise occupants to:
Answer: Evacuate immediately using stairs without activating switches or elevator buttons
Activating electrical switches can ignite gas; stair evacuation avoids this risk and must happen immediately.
Which factor is most likely to compromise a dispatcher's decision-making during a prolonged major incident?
Answer: Decision fatigue from sustained high-demand operations
Decision fatigue degrades judgment and increases errors during extended high-stress operations.
A wildfire is spreading rapidly toward a neighborhood. The dispatcher's role includes:
Answer: Coordinating communication between fire agencies and notifying emergency management for evacuation decisions
Evacuation authority rests with emergency management officials; dispatchers coordinate the multi-agency response and relay critical information.
A caller refuses to follow dispatcher instructions and insists on a different response. The dispatcher should:
Answer: Explain the protocol calmly, document the caller's refusal, and follow protocol
Dispatchers must follow protocol regardless of caller preference while documenting the interaction for accountability.
During a mass casualty event, the dispatch center should activate which system to manage the volume of calls?
Answer: Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) overflow and surge protocols
Surge protocols activate additional dispatchers, call-takers, and mutual aid resources to handle extraordinary call volume.
A dispatcher receives an anonymous bomb threat against a public building. After notifying law enforcement, the dispatcher should also:
Answer: Follow the bomb threat checklist to record all caller details and notify the appropriate chain of command
Bomb threat checklists capture voice characteristics, specific language, and background sounds that are critical for threat assessment.
Post-incident critique and after-action reviews (AARs) benefit dispatchers primarily by:
Answer: Identifying systemic improvements to protocols, training, and resource deployment
AARs are designed to improve systems and processes, not to assign blame — they are a critical quality improvement tool.