911 Operator Test Call Prioritization and Decision-Making Questions and Answers

Question 1

You receive four calls in rapid succession. Which of the following should be prioritized for immediate dispatch?

Accepted Answer

A report of a strong smell of natural gas outside a residential building.

Answer

A call about a burglary that occurred yesterday where the suspects are no longer on scene.

Answer

A noise complaint about a loud party in an apartment complex.

Answer

A report of a vehicle vandalism that happened overnight.

Question 2

A caller reports a person is unconscious and not breathing. According to standard Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) protocols, what is the most critical initial action for the operator?

Accepted Answer

Dispatching advanced life support (ALS) and providing pre-arrival CPR instructions.

Answer

Gathering the caller's full name and a callback number.

Answer

Determining the patient's age and medical history.

Answer

Asking if there are any weapons present at the scene.

Question 3

During an active shooter event, a person calls 911 whispering from a locked office. They state they are safe but can hear gunshots in the distance. What is the most important piece of information to obtain from this caller?

Accepted Answer

The specific location of the shooter, if known.

Answer

The number of people hiding with the caller.

Answer

A description of the caller's injuries.

Answer

The caller's name and phone number.

Question 4

Which of the following scenarios would be classified as the highest priority for police response?

Accepted Answer

A domestic dispute where one party is threatening physical harm and has access to a weapon.

Answer

A report of shoplifting where the suspect fled the scene 10 minutes ago.

Answer

A call about illegally parked vehicles blocking a driveway.

Answer

A request for a welfare check on a neighbor who hasn't been seen in a few days.

Question 5

An Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) system uses a lettered code to indicate the seriousness of a patient's condition. Which letter typically represents the most life-threatening emergency, such as a full cardiac arrest?

Accepted Answer

E (Echo)

Answer

A (Alpha)

Answer

B (Bravo)

Answer

C (Charlie)

Question 6

You receive a call from someone reporting their car was stolen from their driveway sometime overnight. While you are gathering information, a second call comes in reporting a multi-vehicle accident with injuries on the highway. What is the correct action to take?

Accepted Answer

Place the stolen vehicle caller on a brief hold to take the accident call, as it involves immediate risk to life.

Answer

Complete the stolen vehicle report in full before taking the second call to ensure accuracy.

Answer

Tell the accident caller to hang up and call back after you finish the current call.

Answer

Attempt to handle both calls simultaneously by switching back and forth between them.