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MACECOM’s 911 dispatchers have to be adept at multitasking
tesy of MACECOM
to monitor multiple screens, answer calls and coordinate police response.
Photo cour-
‘A calmvoice in the chaos’
ECOM to keep
Mason County, She/ton
communities safe ~
By Isabella Breda
isabe/la@masoncountycom
With multiple computer screens
flashing rapidly changing information
on the locations of emergency units
and a list of active incidents, dispatch-
ers answer 911 and non-emergency
calls and coordinate the appropriate
response from police, fire or emergency
medical units. ,
For 14-year veteran 911 dispatcher
a,
Carrie Robson, this level of multitask-
ing is second nature.
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in {ho rm'm'numly
lo!“ all .\ our wuppuri.
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you ll'im’ we will lu'vlollnwuu: all
(“M guuhlmcs lirz'llllli) if).
o EmRRes
Humian moment
“Some callers just lost loved ones,
we get calls from people feeling sui-
cidal, any kinds of situations like that
even in domestic violence situations,”
Robson said. “We have to be a calm
voice in the chaos. It becomes some-
thing we’re just able to do because
we’ve been so well-trained.”
MACECOM connects 911 callers
with a response from agencies includ-
ing Shelton Police, Mason County
Sheriff’s Office, Mason County Fire
Departments spanning from Matlock
to North Mason Regional Fire Author-
ity and Washington State Patrol. Dis-
patchers also answer calls from media
organizations or concerned citizens on
MACECOM’s nonemergency line.
MACECOM Deputy Executive Di-
rector Mike Rawlings said many of
MACECOM’S dispatchers sought the
Physical Therapists
Occupational Therapists
Speech Language Pathology Specialists
Inpatient Outpatient Therapy
15’3jol'ms Court
(360) 427-2575
Wsheltonhcalthanolrehalocom
33372
position because they were drawn to a
career, of service.
“Because our dispatchers work a
lot of hours, on holidays birthdays, or
cancel plans to cover for someone who’s
sick, they need to be dedicated,” Rawl-
ings said. “It’skind of a lifestyle.”
Dispatcherswork 12-hour shifts, ei-
ther from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. or 6 p.m. to
6 am. '
Robson said there’s adraw to work-
ing long hours —— as a means to give
back to the community.
After undergoing months of train-
ing, dispatchers become more com-
fortable in their ability to handle any
emergency call on their own, but Rob-
son said most of the time, it’s a team
effort. ,
“We have to get there 15 minutes
prior to our shift so the last shift can
oCommunity Resources
~Medicare Savings Programs
360-427-2226
Area Agency on Aging
Help for Seniors' '
We are here to answer your questions about:
Fundlng provlded by the Federal Older Amerlcans An and the State of
Washlngmn
tell us what happened and give us an
idea of what to expect,” Robson said.
“When you get a call, y0u have part-
ners sitting next to you — you’re all
helping each other.”
MACECOM is currently hiring dis-
patchers. Applicants must be at least
18 years old with a, high school diploma
or GED.
Because of the highly confidential
nature of the interactions involved in
the job, all dispatchers must undergo a
psychological examination and pass a
criminal background check.
“something I tell people is while
working this job,’I know what a bad day
is,” Robson said. “It gives me a lot of
perspective; I appreciate my loved ones
even more because I’ve seen others, go
through tragedies. I have a unique em—
pathy for people in the world.”
Popular
Potlatch
With temperatures reaching -
into the 903, Potlatch State Park
attracts a crowd Sunday. Journal
photo by Gordon Weeks
oTransportation Options
oMedicaid Services
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