Emergency Medical Dispatcher
Emergency Medical Dispatcher (EMD) is a professional who is trained to handle emergency calls and dispatch emergency medical services (EMS) to the scene of an incident. The EMD is a critical link in the emergency medical services system, providing the first point of contact for individuals in need of immediate medical attention.
Pronunciation
The term is pronounced as /ɪˈmɜːdʒənsi ˈmɛdɪkəl dɪˈspætʃər/.
Etymology
The term "Emergency Medical Dispatcher" is derived from the words "emergency", "medical", and "dispatcher". "Emergency" comes from the Latin emergere meaning "to arise, bring to light", "medical" is derived from the Latin medicus meaning "physician", and "dispatcher" comes from the French despachier meaning "to send off or away".
Roles and Responsibilities
The primary role of an EMD is to receive emergency calls, determine the nature and severity of the call, and dispatch the appropriate EMS resources. They also provide pre-arrival instructions to callers, such as how to perform CPR or control bleeding, until EMS personnel arrive on the scene.
Related Terms
- Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
- Paramedic
- Emergency Medical Services System
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
Training and Certification
EMDs typically undergo a specialized training program that includes instruction in emergency medical dispatch protocols, emergency medical terminology, and communication skills. They may also be required to obtain certification from a recognized organization such as the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED).
See Also
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