Hey Dispatcher Rod,

Let me ask you a question.

Why do dispatchers seem to feel that it is necessary to use the statement "be advised" so much.

As a 911 supervisor for 5 years, I really tried to get this practice curtailed. I feel that it is a superfluous statement.

For example:

"Medic-7, be advised that PD is in route, ETA 3 minutes."

"Medic-7, PD is in route, ETA 3 minutes."

Was anything different in the second statement?

Thanks

Brian

p.s. Found this in a government publication:

4.32.5.5 Exclusion of Superfluous Words

In order to maintain brief communications, superfluous verbiage should be removed e.g. the expression 'be advised' is superfluous by virtue of the fact that the call has alerted the receiver that a message will follow.

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QUOTE:

Why do dispatchers seem to feel that it is necessary to use the statement "be advised" so much.

Hi Brian, I too am a dispatcher and I think that most of it is just inherited from the other dispatchers in the room. They do it subconsciously.

It runs along the same line as a crew calling dispatch. 750 to 800.... 800 go ahead... we are clear.

Could that also not be summed up with 750 is clear. or 750 to 800, we are clear.

If we were going to go after minor details like that then I have a bunch. Like acknowledging that they have a call but never going enroute. Or what has to be one of my biggest peaves would be if a crew calls stating that they can't get into the building (apartment, business.. ) and they need pd or fire to come and let them in. You go through the motions and get someone to go let them in. You then call the crew back to advise them that someone is on the way down. You then hear.... "Oh yea, ah we are already in" !!!!! What the hell is up with that? You asked for help. We do our jobs and it's to much damn work to call on the air and let me know you are in. Grrrr.

Ok. I'm done with that one for now.

Dispatcher Rod,

GAWD, I am so glad that someone else dislikes that "asking permission to talk" habit. I actually incorporated that into our comm SOP as a "suggestion." The civilian supervisor would not let me make it a directive.

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7. When a Fire Division unit calls Communications, and they have a brief message, they may simply identify themselves and state the reason for communications. Waiting for acknowledgement by the dispatcher before stating reason for the call is usually unnecessary. Dispatchers are always at the console and available.

i. Example: “Engine-11 to Communications, notify Virginia Power to respond to this location.”
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Later

Brian

You can count me in on disliking the extra.. there are two kinds of dispatchers... the ones that like to hear themselves talk and have to parrrot everything along with adding all the colorful words, the other like myself, only say what is necessary, except when everyone is in rare form and alittle humor is required.
Oh and besides a dispatcher being at the console, we also have the luxury of playback.

See Ya later,

Rod

Then there are pri-arrivals, don't you love the way some dispatchers have to use the word "OK" after every sentence or even after every three words? Boy if I could only get a quarter for everytime I heard the word "OK" in a pri-arrivel call, I could retire today...

Rod

I don't so much mind the be advised as the *click*.
Ambulance 1 to dispatch
*click*
Ambulance 1 to dispatch
*click*
AMBULANCE 1 to dispatch
(obviously pissed off at this point) *DISPATCH IS ANSWERING AMBULANCE 1*

Now, we have a repeater, but just for the ambulance. PD and fire do not use it. So, sometimes the dispatcher forgets that they should be using it. So, we have implemented recently the echo dispatching, so even if she doesn't use the repeater, we have an idea of what she is saying. Another fave of mine is the we could get down the street and you would still be dispatching the call. "Please respond to XYZ for the 85 y.o. female that fell 2 weeks ago, now she is having a stroke, she is also having pain where she fell. This also happened 5 months ago and she had a stroke then. In 1978 she had her appendix out. I repeat...."