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 dispatcher is given incorrect information by a caller that leads to an inadequate initial response. Responsibility for the outcome primarily rests with:
Answer: The caller, but the dispatcher must still document, update, and upgrade the response as new information emerges
Dispatchers act on available information but have a continuing duty to update and adjust the response as new information is received.
Which of the following BEST describes 'span of control' as it applies to a dispatcher during a major incident?
Answer: The number of units or channels a single dispatcher can effectively manage, typically 3–7
ICS defines optimal span of control as 3–7 resources per supervisor or coordinator, including dispatchers managing radio traffic.
A dispatcher notices that an officer has not checked in after a scheduled time during a high-risk felony stop. The first step is to:
Answer: Immediately attempt to contact the officer and, if unsuccessful, dispatch backup
A missed officer safety check-in is a potential life-safety emergency requiring immediate contact attempts and backup dispatch.
During a mutual aid request, which information is MOST critical for the dispatcher to convey to the responding outside agency?
Answer: Incident type, location, current resources on scene, and known hazards
Outside agencies need situational awareness — incident type, location, current resources, and hazards — to respond safely and effectively.
A caller reports that a family member is in cardiac arrest but refuses to perform CPR for personal reasons. The dispatcher should:
Answer: Respect the refusal, keep the caller on the line for updates, and provide ETA to minimize panic
When CPR is refused, dispatchers must respect the decision, stay on the line for critical updates, and ensure the fastest possible response.
In the context of crisis decision-making, 'situational awareness' for a dispatcher means:
Answer: Maintaining an accurate, current mental model of all active incidents, resources, and potential developments
Situational awareness requires a continuous, dynamic understanding of all active incidents and resource status to make sound dispatch decisions.
A power outage knocks out the primary CAD system during an active incident. The dispatcher should immediately:
Answer: Switch to backup procedures including paper logs, backup radio channels, and manual tracking
Continuity of operations plans require dispatchers to revert to manual backup procedures to maintain response capability during system failures.