Within The Trenches

Ep 143 features Bill, Quality Assurance Specialist with Horry County E911, South Carolina. In this episode I got the chance to speak with Bill about his 9-1-1 dispatch career after retiring from the military and how crucial it is to follow protocols in the center. Bill shares a story where confirming the location was not followed and how critical it is to do so in an emergency. If you ever wanted to know what you need when calling 9-1-1, this is the episode for you. Please check it out and share it.  This is the last episode recorded at the IAED's annual NAVIGATOR conference and it was a complete success. Thank you to everyone with the IAED for the hospitality and giving me the opportunity to attend the conference, speak and do the podcast.  To learn more about the IAED and the Annals of Emergency Dispatch & Response follow the links below. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, please send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. IAED - Facebook | Twitter | We

Ep 142 features Erin, Communications Specialist at Loveland Emergency Communications out of Colorado and the 2017 IAED Dispatcher of the Year. In this episode we take a trip down memory lane with Erin as she talks about her early 9-1-1 career to present day. She shares stories including one from when she was training and took her first 9-1-1 call with her trainer and when she answered she added a few "1's" to 9-1-1. She also shares her call and experience that lead to her becoming the 2017 IAED Dispatcher of the Year.  This is a must listen so please check it out and share it. To learn more about the IAED follow the links below. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, please send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. IAED - Facebook | Twitter | Web Episode topics - Erin's 9-1-1 story Early training calls IAED Dispatcher of the Year And more

Ep 141 features Ryan Dedmon, Outreach Director with the 911 Training Institute and creator of the popular blog Operation 10-8. In this episode I finally got the chance to not only have Ryan on an episode where we are face-to-face but we finally met after almost a year of talking online. Ryan explains the reasons why the 9-1-1 Wellness Foundation closed its doors and what's new in the world of the 9-1-1 Training Institute.  This is a must listen so please check it out and share it. To learn more about the IAED and the 9-1-1 Training Institute follow the links below. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, please send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.   9-1-1 Training Institute - Facebook | Web Operation 10-8 - Facebook | Web IAED - Facebook | Twitter | Web Episode topics - The decision to close the doors of the 9-1-1 Wellness Foundation 9-1-1 calls What's new at the 9-1-1 Training Institute? Upcoming training 

Ep 140 features Ty, Director of Education with NENA and Lisa, Education Instructor for NENA. In this episode we follow Lisa through every rank in dispatch she held up and to the point that she left to become an instructor. Both Lisa and Ty share 9-1-1 stories from their career and let us in on what's new at NENA and their upcoming annual conference in San Antonio, Texas. This is a must listen so please check it out and share it. To learn more about the IAED and NENA follow the links below. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, please send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.   NENA - Facebook | Twitter | Web IAED - Facebook | Twitter | Web Episode topics - Lisa's 9-1-1 story 9-1-1 calls What's new at NENA? Upcoming training & annual national conference

Ep 139 features the CEO and Public Relations Director of Uivo, Emily and David. Uivo is the only fast and secure emergency contact system for personal property that works directly with public safety dispatch centers. In this episode we learn about how both Emily and David got into public safety. Emily has a background in 9-1-1 dispatch and David is a current firefighter and paramedic. Emily's experience in the 9-1-1 world was an inspiration to the development of Uivo.  This is a must listen so please check it out and share it. To learn more about Uivo and the IAED follow the links below. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, please send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.   Uivo - Facebook | Web IAED – Facebook | Twitter | Web   Episode topics – Emily’s 9-1-1 story David's public safety story 9-1-1 calls The severed foot run NAVIGATOR conference experience

Ep 138 features Christine, dispatch supervisor with Waukesha, Wisconsin and Drew, manager of EMS and flight communications of Columbia City, Indiana. In this episode we follow Christine and Drew as they reflect on their careers and how they got there. Stories are shared along with moments of clarity and realization that this job is not just a job but a life long career.  This is a must listen so please check it out and share it. To learn more about the IAED follow the links below. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, please send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. IAED - Facebook | Twitter | Web   Episode topics - Christine's 9-1-1 story Drew jump into public safety 9-1-1 calls NAVIGATOR conference experience

Ep 137 features Ethan, a dispatcher out of NC & Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship Recipient & Daphanie, dispatcher and past guest out of FL and she is also one of the Within the Trenches Podcast Facebook Page Admins. In this episode we follow Ethan's journey into medical dispatching as well as stories from his career. As a first timer to the IAED's NAVIGATOR conference he touches on his experience and Daphanie lends some insight on the conference, networking and a few of her personal 9-1-1 stories. This is a must listen so please check it out and share it. To learn more about the IAED follow the links below. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, please send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.   IAED - Facebook | Twitter | Web Episode topics - Ethan's 9-1-1 story 9-1-1 calls NAVIGATOR conference experience

This is a special episode that you don't want to miss. In this episode my wife Rebecca joins me to chat about what it was like for her during my time working as a 9-1-1 dispatcher. Not many people know this but as a dispatcher you miss out on all kinds of family time. You will more than likely work days, nights, weekends, holiday's and some people work forced overtime. This episode is an #IAM911 story, but from the spouses side.  As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.     Episode topics - Podcast updates National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week IAM911 from the spouses side

This is an episode you do not want to miss! No intro on this one. It's a surprise guest. Please listen, enjoy and share!

Episode 134 of Within the Trenches features Caroline Burau, 12 year 9-1-1 dispatch veteran and author of Answering 911: Life in the hot seat and Tell me exactly what happened. In this episode Caroline talks about how she got into dispatching, 9-1-1 calls that stuck with her, her inspiration for writing and much more! I also make an announcement that I have been holding back for some time and it's an amazing one. This episode is one you don't want to miss so please listen and share. Below you will find some links to Caroline's social media and website. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. Caroline Burau - Facebook | Twitter | Web Episode topics - Caroline's 9-1-1 story Early calls Writing, publishing, healing

Episode 133 of the podcast features Kaylyn, a 9-1-1 dispatcher & content creator out of Northern California. She is the creator of the popular YouTube channel Youmarriedme. In this episode Kaylyn shares her 9-1-1 story along with her inspiration for Youmarriedme. One of her stories left me speechless. It's a powerful one that you don't want to miss! Below you will find links to her social media outlets. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. Youmarriedme - Facebook | Twitter | YouTube   Episode topics - Kaylyn's 911 story Kaylyn's first high priority call Kaylyn's closure, 5 years after a suicide call Inspiration for "Youmarriedme"    

Within the Trenches is back with episode 132! After this website being down for almost a week it is back up and iTunes subscriptions are up and running again too. In this episode I spoke with Mary the Deputy Director of Macecom out of Washington State and also the author of a very popular article "Dispatch on the Brain" for The Journal through the IAED. We visit her personal 9-1-1 journey, calls she has taken and much more.  This is a must listen! As always if you have any questions, comments or you want to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. Also make sure to check the links below. Macecom is currently hiring and please go to Macecom's Facebook page and like them. Mary's article is also listed along with the link to 911ceu.com.    Macecom - Facebook | Web  Macecom - Now hiring! Dispatch on the Brain by Mary | The Journal 911CEU - Web Episode topics - Website issues recap Mary's 9-1-1 story Mary's 9-1-1 calls Dispatch on the Brain article discussion

Imagine you’re watching television, enjoying your day and a breaking news flash comes on. You see law enforcement in a shootout with two heavily armed men during a bank heist. You are shock at the sight of it. Now imagine you’re 911, experiencing this first-hand with your brothers and sisters who are there, giving their lives. You listen as they yell for assistance, and...“Shots fired!” Episode 131 - Imagine Listening features the stories of the #IAM911 movement. This episode also features radio traffic recordings courtesy of the 911dispatch.com tape library on the North Hollywood bank heist shootout that occurred February 28, 1997. This year marks the 20th anniversary of that incident. Two men, heavily armed and wearing body armor were in a shootout with law enforcement for nearly 44 minutes. In the end, the only fatalities were the suspects.  This is a must listen! As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. If you have an

Ep 130 features April, Industry Affairs Specialist with INdigital and former 911 Director with Eaton County 911 out of Michigan along with Larry, Director of Sales and Marketing with INdigital and former Reserve Officer with Hudsonville PD out of Michigan. In this episode we share dispatch stories and listen to 9-1-1 calls.  This is a must listen! As always if you have any questions, comments or if you want to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. Episode topics - April's 9-1-1 story Suicide call April took Larry's public safety start   911 Tapes - Tape 1 - CPR - In July 2009 a Charleston County (SC) woman suffered a cardiac arrest at home, and her husband dialed 911 for help. Dispatcher Melissa gave him CPR instructions, and he performed for six minutes until EMS units arrived. His wife Christine survived. Tape 2 - In July 2009 a Boca Raton couple were attacked by a “crazy” fox, and they used a PVC pipe to club the animal to death. Michael and Dani dialed 911 for help. Oddly, 10 mi

Ep 129 of the podcast features Jerry, Chair of the Board of Accreditation for the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch, the organization charged with setting standards, establishing curriculum, and conducting research for public safety dispatch worldwide and Mike, who is the Digital and Social Media Content Editor of the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch. In this episode we share medical dispatch stories, learn about the IAED and their upcoming 2017 NAVIGATOR conference in New Orleans, Louisiana. They will be featuring the podcast at the conference and I will be giving a class called, "Keep Broadcasting Your Message."  The Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship is up and the IAED and I are going to be pushing it hard. The deadline is February 15, 2017 and it's an opportunity that you do not want to miss out on. Below you will find out what you can get from the scholarship and a link on where to apply. As always if you have any comments, questions or you would like to be a gu

Imagine waking up on Saturday. The sky is blue and the sun is shining bright. You lean over to wake your husband. He doesn’t move. You turn him over and notice his lips are blue…you check him…no pulse. Your heart breaks…he’s gone. Now imagine you are 9-1-1, listening to the screams and wails of a wife who has lost her best friend and husband. She requests CPR instructions but you know it’s too late. This is what it’s like, Within the Trenches.    In this episode we will visit the #IAM911 movement, a movement I started to fight the reclassification of dispatchers from clerical to protective and bring awareness to the types of calls that 9-1-1 dispatchers answer on a daily basis.     Now…you heard the warning at the beginning but I must warn you again and add that if you suffer from PTSD or have suicidal tendencies you are listening at your own risk. The stories you are about to hear are all true and come from the dispatchers who lived them.     While some stories have a good outcome, the majority are horrify

Episode 127 features show regular Rob "Big Mac" McMullen, Director of Vigo County 9-1-1 in Indiana and 1st VP of NENA. In this episode we talk about those unwanted stomach issues in dispatch. The ones that attack when a high priority call comes in and you are unable to get up to use the bathroom. It happens to some more often then you would think. We also play a few 9-1-1 tapes that you don't want to miss. They come from the archive of 911dispatch.com. Thank you and R.I.P. Gary. I will forever be grateful to you for your help and kindness.  Episode 128 and 129 are also coming up where 128 will be the second installment of Imagine Listening, an extension of the podcast featuring the stories of the #IAM911 movement. 129 will feature the IAED and the 2017 Navigator conference. There is a lot more to come so don't miss out! As always if you have any questions or would like to be a guest on the show, send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com Episode topics - Medical issues in dispatch Pootastic dispatch stories Tape

Episode 126 is different from the rest. It's the introduction to Within the Trenches - Imagine Listening, an extension of the podcast featuring stories from the #IAM911 movement. What you are about to hear are true stories. While some have good outcomes, the majority are horrifying. A warning...if you suffer from PTSD or have suicidal tendencies this episode may be a trigger. LISTEN AT YOUR OWN RISK.  This episode also touches on PTSD in 9-1-1 dispatch and a look at the dark humor that comes with the job. A shout out goes to Dave, Tim and Amy of Darkness Radio for having me on their show. Below you will find links to my interview and a shout out to Mike of Sword & Scale for having me on episode #82 of his podcast. As always if you have any questions or want to be a guest on show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.  Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship - Web Sword and Scale - Facebook | iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Twitter | Web | Episode #82 Darkness Radio - Facebook | Twitter | Web | Inte

Episode 125 features an interview with Kyle, a 9-1-1 dispatcher with Montgomery County Central Communications Center out of Indiana. He shares his 9-1-1 story and a recent call that follows a tragedy involving a mother who murdered her own children, stabbed herself in the neck but lived. She has been charged with two counts of murder and so far, has pleaded not guilty. This is an episode you don't want to miss. This is also part of the season finale of the Sword & Scale podcast. As always if you have any questions or you want to be a guest on the show send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. Brandi Worley Case - FOX59 Sword and Scale - Facebook | iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Twitter | Web Episode topics - Kyle's 9-1-1 story Brandi Worley news story Shout out to the Sword and Scale podcast

This is a short episode on the Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship in association with the IAED, a recap of stories told in Ep. 123 and a shout out to Sword & Scale, an addicting true crime podcast that you must check out! I helped out on episode 82, their season finale and it is horrific! Per Mike, "DO NOT LISTEN TO EPISODE 82!"  As always if you have any questions or you would like to be a guest on the show, send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com. Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship - Web Sword and Scale - Facebook | iTunes | Stitcher Radio | Twitter | Web   Episode topics - Within the Trenches Continuing Education Scholarship Episode 123 story recap Shout out to Sword and Scale podcast