CED Crisis Management & Decision-Making 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During a CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) incident, a dispatcher's primary role is to:
- Advise callers on decontamination procedures
- Coordinate specialized resources and relay hazard information to responders (Correct answer)
- Immediately notify the media to issue public warnings
- Contact the hospital and reserve beds before dispatching field units
Correct answer: Coordinate specialized resources and relay hazard information to responders
Dispatchers coordinate the specialized response and keep responders informed of hazard details — not provide decon guidance or manage media.
Question 2: When implementing the Incident Command System (ICS) at the dispatch level, the dispatcher typically functions in which role?
- Incident Commander
- Communications Unit (Correct answer)
- Safety Officer
- Finance Section Chief
Correct answer: Communications Unit
Dispatchers operate within the Communications Unit under the Logistics Section during ICS-structured incidents.
Question 3: A caller reports a school with a possible active shooter. The dispatcher's PRIMARY initial step is to:
- Advise the caller to lock down the school before dispatching
- Immediately dispatch law enforcement and initiate the active shooter protocol (Correct answer)
- Confirm the number of suspects before sending resources
- Notify the school district office first per notification hierarchy
Correct answer: Immediately dispatch law enforcement and initiate the active shooter protocol
Active shooter protocols require immediate law enforcement dispatch; delays for confirmation or notifications can cost lives.
Question 4: Cognitive tunnel vision during a crisis can be reduced by a dispatcher through:
- Handling one call at a time with no interruptions
- Using checklists and structured protocols to ensure all steps are covered (Correct answer)
- Relying solely on experience rather than written guides
- Multitasking across as many calls as possible to stay mentally active
Correct answer: Using checklists and structured protocols to ensure all steps are covered
Checklists prevent critical steps from being missed when stress narrows mental focus.
Question 5: A caller reports a neighbor threatening suicide with a firearm. Which resource should be dispatched in addition to law enforcement?
- Fire department only
- Crisis negotiation team and/or mental health crisis unit (Correct answer)
- Animal control as a precaution
- Code enforcement to document the situation
Correct answer: Crisis negotiation team and/or mental health crisis unit
Suicidal subjects with weapons require law enforcement plus mental health or crisis negotiation resources for safe resolution.
Question 6: A dispatcher is experiencing signs of secondary traumatic stress after handling a mass casualty event. The appropriate action is to:
- Continue working to stay busy and avoid dwelling on the event
- Seek peer support, a critical incident stress debriefing (CISD), or professional help (Correct answer)
- Request only minor calls for the rest of the shift
- Keep the experience private to avoid affecting co-workers
Correct answer: Seek peer support, a critical incident stress debriefing (CISD), or professional help
CISD and peer support programs are specifically designed to mitigate secondary traumatic stress in emergency dispatchers.
Question 7: An on-scene unit reports the situation is far more serious than the original dispatch information indicated. The dispatcher should:
- Wait for the unit to formally request additional resources before acting
- Proactively upgrade the response and notify command of the updated status (Correct answer)
- Document the discrepancy and take no further action
- Ask the caller if they want additional units before sending them
Correct answer: Proactively upgrade the response and notify command of the updated status
Proactive resource upgrading ensures units are not under-resourced while awaiting a formal request under pressure.
CED Crisis Management & Decision-Making 3
During a CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear) incident, a dispatcher's primary role is to: