Information Recall and Comprehension Flashcards
7 cards from real 911 Operator Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Information Recall and Comprehension flashcards as text
Which of the following scenarios requires a dispatcher to use a 'hot transfer' to a PSAP in another jurisdiction?
Answer: An incident location falls outside the receiving PSAP's service area
A hot transfer (live transfer with the caller still connected) is used when an incident falls in another jurisdiction's service area so no information is lost.
A dispatcher receives a call about a gas leak and the caller says 'it smells really strong inside the house.' What information is MOST critical to confirm next?
Answer: Whether everyone has evacuated or is still inside
The immediate life-safety question for a gas leak is whether occupants are still inside an atmosphere that could ignite or cause asphyxiation.
A caller reports a shooting and says the shooter 'just drove away going south on Broad Street in a red pickup.' What is the dispatcher's FIRST radio transmission priority?
Answer: Broadcast the suspect vehicle description and direction of travel to all units
Broadcasting the fleeing suspect's description immediately maximizes the chance of interception and public safety.
When a 911 dispatcher takes notes during a call, the notes should be:
Answer: Objective, accurate, and legible enough to support the official CAD record
Dispatcher notes may be reviewed in legal proceedings and must therefore be objective, accurate, and professionally legible.
A caller reports a cardiac arrest but is panicking and can barely communicate. What is the dispatcher's most effective communication strategy?
Answer: Use short, clear, direct sentences and one instruction at a time
Short, direct instructions delivered one at a time help panicked callers absorb and execute lifesaving guidance under extreme stress.
A caller reports that a child fell into a swimming pool and is not moving. After dispatching EMS, what pre-arrival instruction should the dispatcher give?
Answer: Direct the caller to remove the child from the water and begin CPR if trained
For a drowning victim, removing the child from water and initiating CPR is the correct pre-arrival priority — spinal precautions are secondary to airway and circulation.
After a 911 call ends, a dispatcher realizes they forgot to ask the caller for a callback number. What is the BEST immediate action?
Answer: Use ANI data to retrieve the callback number and document it in the CAD record
ANI (Automatic Number Identification) provides the caller's phone number, which should be retrieved and added to the CAD record for follow-up.