Stress Dispatcher Research Paper
One of the most mentally stressful jobs in our country is a being dispatcher. They hear and go through situations some people do not see in their lifetime. Dispatchers go through a lot of pressure due to the fact that they are the “first responders” and have to calmly make quick life or death decisions. Very few people are capable of working in this field. The people who do work in this field obtain very specific skills that help them do their job correctly. They are more than just emergency operators; there are also ambulance and fire dispatchers that give firefighters and officers the information and resources they need. Dispatchers are important to society because they maintain professionalism while helping people in distress.
Becoming …show more content…
Not only are the calls enough stress for an individual, but after they hang up they do not know the outcome of the situation, which can weigh on them just as much. They are constantly exposed to traumatic experiences, and although they may not actually be seeing it, they hear the pain of a mother about to lose her child or a person's final words before committing suicide. Dispatchers are often diagnosed with Critical Incident Stress Syndrome (CISS), which is quite similar to Post Trumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that is caused by being too involved in people's tragedies, but not as severe. Symptoms of Critical Incident Stress Syndrome include nightmares, inability to cope with stress in a person's daily life, and severe anxiety. Studies have shown that up to three percent of dispatchers can be diagnosed with full Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms. Although not all of them may be affected by CISS or PTSD, up to ninety percent of dispatchers have high blood pressure (“Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers”). Even though they may be under a lot of pressure, dispatchers are very confident people. They must know how to hide their feelings in order to efficiently help someone who is in danger or their emotions could interfere with the outcome of the
Becoming …show more content…
Not only are the calls enough stress for an individual, but after they hang up they do not know the outcome of the situation, which can weigh on them just as much. They are constantly exposed to traumatic experiences, and although they may not actually be seeing it, they hear the pain of a mother about to lose her child or a person's final words before committing suicide. Dispatchers are often diagnosed with Critical Incident Stress Syndrome (CISS), which is quite similar to Post Trumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) that is caused by being too involved in people's tragedies, but not as severe. Symptoms of Critical Incident Stress Syndrome include nightmares, inability to cope with stress in a person's daily life, and severe anxiety. Studies have shown that up to three percent of dispatchers can be diagnosed with full Post Traumatic Stress Disorder symptoms. Although not all of them may be affected by CISS or PTSD, up to ninety percent of dispatchers have high blood pressure (“Police, Fire, and Ambulance Dispatchers”). Even though they may be under a lot of pressure, dispatchers are very confident people. They must know how to hide their feelings in order to efficiently help someone who is in danger or their emotions could interfere with the outcome of the