911 - The Cavalry of Heart by Dusty Blumbergs Nielsen

Published December 8, 2020

Who are they that work in Communications for Emergency Services - the Dispatchers, Comm Specs, Telecommunicators? For all those who serve: Fire, Ambulance, Air Medical, & Law Enforcement Services in the Communications - this is for you.

When we think about calling for emergency services, we often think we are calling the Cavalry and speaking to them directly. It's a common perception that we see a team of providers armed and ready for battle at the other end of a phone. While that is somewhat true, it is he/she that flies solo behind the handset waiting for your call, waiting to help you every day. That lone soldier is there with their heart on their sleeve, ready to place it in your hands for those moments until the cavalry that they are sending to your aid arrives. He/She that takes their own thoughts and feelings about humanity and turns it into empathy & compassion to a level the ordinary person does not always understand. For those moments while on a phone, neither has a physical face - yet, the dispatcher has painted one for you in their mind & heart as they imagine the situation you are facing. You may even get two hearts in your hands when a dispatcher shares the torch with another dispatcher for service. Bringing a unity to the front line of service for you. That dispatcher/those dispatchers will engage your situation through their own eyes and ensure that they lead you to safety in the best way they know. It takes extensive training and a lot of self-reflection to be a soldier in this role, within the forefront of that Cavalry you envision. The role of communications in the world of emergency services takes special people with special hearts. You could walk past one in your daily life outside of the phone that they see as a battleground at times, a battleground for their Cavalry that makes peace & safety for all. Thank a dispatcher, regardless if you can see them, as they see you always!

Thank you, Dusty, for sharing this beautiful piece. If you are interested in writing a blog, please email 911derWomen@gmail.com. Sign up for our newsletter on our homepage to stay up to date with 911der Women programming, exclusive content and blog updates. Click here and scroll to the bottom!