What are the roles of the CO in this Communications Centre?.
The primary role of the CO is Call Taking and Dispatch. When the crews are on the scene, the CO maintains contact with the PC, monitors all PAR counts and is responsible for contacting Key Holders, or other allied agencies as required. The secondary role is telephone receptionist, loving regarded as, "Job security" by the current COs. The reality is, an on duty CO in Brantford can go for 24 hours without dispatching a call, but as with anything, when the drought ends, the storm is nasty.
What regulations and legislation apply to the CO's? What documentation requirements are in place?.
According to the current COs, they are governed by the CRTC and the OFM and local P & P. None of the current COs hold an RRO licence or have any formal education in Communications. .
There is no documentation other than a locally produced incident report, used only in the event of computer failure (paper dispatch system). Any and all information about an incident is ruled from the computer data base by the PC, Chief or CFPO as required. A log book is kept in the Communications Centre and is updated with road closures, vacation, emergency contact numbers etc. It is the responsibility of the incoming CO to read and initial any changes at the beginning of their shift.
COMMUNICATION.
Characteristics of Effective Communications.
State a case where effective communication was utilized to process an emergency call.
A call was received on the 911 line, a man called to report that there was smoke coming from underneath his neighbour's apartment door. The CO took the man's name and address along with a call back number before instructing him to vacate the apartment building. The caller was quite concise with the information supplied and the appropriate units were dispatched to the scene. Pump Rescue 1 and Squad 3 from the main hall and Ariel 9 from #2 Hall arrived on scene within 3 minutes of the call being dispatched.
