The Critical Role of Dispatch.

There are 240 million 9-1-1 calls in the United States every year. The burden of managing these emergencies until first responders can arrive is on the dispatchers working in the 5806 public safety answering points, more commonly known as dispatch centers. They are the first link in the chain of survival between the public and the remainder of the health care system. Dispatchers play a critical role in the early identification of emergencies, assignment of appropriate emergency resources, and provision of life-sustaining interventions like dispatcher-assisted cardiopulmonary resuscitation and disaster management.