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The images and excerpts from the Under the Headset: Surviving Dispatcher Stress found on this World Wide Web page are copyright ©2000 by Richard Behr. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author, except you may download, reprint, reproduce and share the images and information on this World Wide Web page for non- commercial, private purposes. However, you may not manipulate or alter in any way the images and information.
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Under the Headset
Surviving Dispatcher Stress
ISBN 0-9661970-4-6
Published 2000
by Richard Behr
Under the Headset: Surviving Dispatcher Stress is a book about the stress of being a dispatcher. Written by a dispatcher and a critical incident stress instructor, it includes information about the stress process, identifying stressors, and coping with stress. The book also includes sections on humor and inspiration. Stories of survival, written by dispatchers who have lived through the stress of critical incidents, are provided.
Table of Contents
- Chapter 1 -- A Personal Journey
- Chapter 2 -- The Boring Chapter, Or the stress process
- Biochemical/Physiological Affects
- Signs and Symptoms of Stress
- Stress Health Facts
- Emergency Services Personality Profile
- Chapter 3 -- Identifying Our Stressors
- Specific Dispatch Stressors
- Chapter 4 -- Ways to Cope with Stress
- What you need/don’t need
- What you need/don’t need
- Chapter 5 -- Coping Techniques
- Chapter 6 -- Surviving and Thriving
- Coping at home
- Why are we prone to CIS?
- Chapter 7 -- Exercises
- Chapter 8 -- Humor
- A Prayer for the Stressed
- How to Tell if You’re a Dispatcher
- Things You’d Love to Say to the Public But Can’t
- Stress Diet
- Chain of Command
- Little Johnny
- Top Ten Reasons Why 9-1-1 is More Than Just a Job
- You Know You’re Too Stressed If
- Chapter 9 -- Dispatcher Inspiration
- Frogs
- Guardian Angel
- Juggling Life
- Lessons from Geese
- How to Live Your Dash
- And God Created Dispatchers
- Chapter 10 -- Dispatcher Prayers
- Dispatcher Prayer
- Dispatcher Prayer
- Who Am I
- Letter to a Veteran Police Officer
- A Tribute to Dispatchers
- Chapter 11 -- Officer Inspirational
- Tears of a Cop
- Lousy Cop
- Chapter 12 -- Police Officer Prayer
- Chapter 13 -- Firefighter Inspirational
- A Firefighter’s Prayer
- A True Hero
- What is a Fireman?
- Admiration!
- Chapter 14 -- The Teacher
- Friendship
- Heart Hotel
- Chapter 15 -- Stories of Survival
- Karen from Iowa
- Warriors and White Roses
- Texas A&M Tragedy
- Chapter 16 -- Taking Care of Yourself
- An Apocryphal Tale
- In Closing
- Chapter 17 -- WEB Sites of Interest
About the Author
Richard Behr has been in public safety for over 27 years. After a stint in the U.S. Navy as a photographer, his first job was with a private ambulance service. Richard then switched careers to become a firefighter. After 13 years he became a public safety dispatcher. During his career, Richard has received numerous commendations, letters of appreciation and has received his agency’s Meritorious Service Medal and Medal of Bravery. He is a Member with Diplomate status of The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, is a Board Certified Expert in Traumatic Stress and is Board Certified in Emergency Crisis Response. He is a senior instructor for Public Safety Training Consultants, holds the position of adjunct instructor with Riverside Community College (CA) and teaches at Riverside County (CA) Sheriff’s Department Ben Clark Training Center. He is Past Secretary and currently is the Vice President of Riverside County Law Enforcement Trainers Association (CA). Richard has been a presenter for several conferences around the country, including Associated Public Safety Officials (APCO) International and Regional Conferences and National Emergency Number Association (NENA) conferences. As a founding member of a critical incident stress debriefing (CISD) team, he has taught hundreds of dispatchers about the effects stress has on their job performance and personal lives.