Crisis Management & Decision-Making Skills Flashcards
7 cards from real PSD practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Crisis Management & Decision-Making Skills flashcards as text
A caller reports a multi-vehicle accident with possible entrapment and fires. What is the dispatcher's FIRST priority?
Answer: Dispatch fire, EMS, and law enforcement simultaneously
Multi-hazard incidents require immediate simultaneous dispatch of all relevant resources to minimize response time.
During a mass casualty incident, a dispatcher receives calls from five different witnesses with conflicting information. What is the best approach?
Answer: Dispatch based on the worst-case scenario reported and update units as information clarifies
Dispatching based on the worst-case scenario ensures adequate resources are sent while updates refine the response.
A dispatcher is managing three simultaneous high-priority calls. Which action best demonstrates effective crisis prioritization?
Answer: Assess life-safety threat levels and dispatch units to the most critical incident first
Triage-based prioritization ensures that incidents posing the greatest immediate threat to life receive resources first.
A caller becomes hysterical and is unable to provide a location during a medical emergency. What should the dispatcher do?
Answer: Use calm, directive questioning and attempt to obtain location through ANI/ALI data
Using structured questioning combined with ANI/ALI technology helps gather critical location data even when callers are distressed.
Which of the following BEST describes the 'rule of nines' as it relates to a dispatcher's role in burn victim calls?
Answer: A body surface area estimation tool dispatchers relay to EMS to help determine severity
The rule of nines estimates the percentage of body surface area burned, helping dispatchers provide EMS with severity information.
An off-duty officer calls in reporting an active shooter in a shopping mall. What is a critical step the dispatcher must take?
Answer: Verify the officer's identity, obtain all tactical information, and immediately dispatch resources
Verifying identity and gathering tactical details from a trained witness while dispatching resources maximizes situational awareness.
During a large-scale natural disaster, the CAD system goes offline. What should a dispatcher do?
Answer: Switch to manual logging using backup paper logs and notify a supervisor immediately
Backup paper logs maintain call continuity and supervisory notification ensures proper incident command is established during system failure.