Emergency Dispatcher

I have been hoping to go back to school to take 911 Emergency Services, but every time the subject comes up in conversation up... people feel the need to remind me how stressful of a job it is. I've been told to only pursue it if I'm really sure and that the hours are terrible (which they really are). The worst case so far was when I was at an interview to be a house maid. Like all interviews she asked me where I see myself in 10 years. I told her as an emergency dispatcher. Her immediate reaction was to convince me not to go down that career path.

She even asked me how I am at handling stress... which seems strange because I don't think anyone would answer that they like stressful situations. When I hesitated she told me that if I have to think about than the job isn't for me. Not only did that absolutelyinfuriate me inside, but she never even messaged me back to let me know I didn't get the job as a maid. The same interviewer suggested that if I choose that career path that I should start drinking, which I'm pretty sure is terrible life advice for many reasons. For one, drinking alcohol doesn't actually help with stress in the long run.

I'm still quite confident that this is the right choice for me despite everyones rude and nosey comments.

In order to become an emergency dispatcher, I would go back to school for two years (or 10 months intensive). I would take a series of classes that relates to the field including "How to Deal With Stress" and "Customer Service." I would get some ever so badly needed field placement that would hopefully give me a connection to get a job. Then the real fun begins, a dreaded commute to down town Toronto everyday with crowded trains and busses. Yes, the stress of the job would be enormous and it is certain that I will hear things that will scar me forever. However, wouldn't it be worth it to know that I have helped people? Side note: the money is good, like really good. I'm talking 80% covered dental and medication on top of 90K per year. With that kind of money I can afford to take that much needed vacation.

In order to find out if being an emergency dispatcher is really as bad as people say it is, I've decided to do some research ... and here is what I found.

After doing some research, it turns out what emergency dispatchers suffer from is called 'vicarious trauma' also known as compassion fatigue. It is the result from hearing people's worst days of their life everyday of their life. They also have been known to get PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) after specific calls.

Long story short, yes it is a very stressful job. However, with that said. I still think that people who hardly know me need to stop telling me that it is a job to think about... because I happen to have a lot of experience with PTSD and dealing with stressful situations.

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