Discover the AEP Crisis Communications Toolbox

Our AEP Crisis Communications Toolbox will make you a more effective call taker and dispatcher, giving you the tools to increase responder safety and improve the chances of successful outcomes. As emergency communicators, we are vital caregivers in the public safety circle.

  • What do we need to say to suicidal callers or depressed subjects? 
  • What do we need to know about ‘suicide-by-cop’ precipitators? 
  • How do we prepare the first responders with a complete picture of what they are responding to?

There are over 45,000 reported suicides annually in the United States.

For every completed suicide, there are 50 others that call 911 or a suicide prevention hotline as a cry for help before or during a suicide attempt. Additionally, dispatch centers are often the initial "first responder" when hostage events or barricaded suspect events occur. With these statistics in mind, dispatchers must know the delicate balance that they are responsible for during family emergencies and various crisis calls. In the ‘988-transfer’ world, communications centers still need to be trained for all types of recognition and referral.

American Emergency Preparedness have been working with clinicians and line professionals to give your staff the best practices used in today’s crisis situations. As a veteran, Lead Educator Ted Bourgeois understands the need for 911 professionals to be present for our most vulnerable populations. Veterans can be the forgotten victims in today’s society; their needs have to be recognized and fulfilled.
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Crisis Communications Course Poster Full

You'll Learn:

  • How to handle specific call-taking scenarios and dispatching techniques for responder safety

  • Myths versus facts of suicide and ‘suicide-by-cop’ events, and your responsibilities as a call-taker/dispatcher

  • Domestic/Family Violence: the dispatcher's vital role in information gathering

Course curriculum

    1. Introduction

    2. Introduction Activity

    1. Chapter Introduction

    2. Roles of a Telecommunicator

    1. Foundational Structure - Your Toolbox

    2. Foundational Structure Worksheet

    1. Barriers to Communication

    2. Communication Barriers Worksheet

    1. Control the Call

    2. Communication Tools Worksheet

    1. Performing a Risk Assessment

    2. Risk Assessment Worksheet

About this course

  • $289.00
  • 23 lessons
  • 0.5 hours of video content

Pricing options

See what students have had to say about this course:

““It’s easy to put a ‘10’ on a class eval sheet. This class truly is fantastic.””

Tyler Revrink - Spearfish, SD

““This course was very informative and I look forward to sharing this knowledge with my coworkers””

Jessie Schmitz, Waupaca, WI

““Thank you for presenting the class in a way that made learning fun. We were taught like colleagues rather than students.””

Andrea Ptalik - Winner, SD

““Excellent class directed at dispatchers with a lot of best practices to shape our training program.””

Nicole Ogle – Manitowoc, WI

““I feel as though I’ll be going home more knowledgeable and inspired for my staff.””

Paige Shaunaman - Roberts County, SD

““I learned so many things to help our program. Sign Up! You won’t regret it.””

Krista Perkins – Monroe, WI

Instructor(s)

Justin Prescott

Director of Online Education

Since 2016, Justin has worked for the City of Waltham in the 911 Telecommunications Department. In addition to being one of the center’s Communications Training Officers, Justin is also Waltham’s EMD coordinator and one of the department’s Quality Control Officers. He holds his Instructor Certification with the AHA and has completed multiple training programs, including APCO’s Basic Call Taking, multiple Active Shooter programs (including live drills/simulations), Mass Casualty Incident training, counter-terrorism training, advanced fire dispatch programs including Rapid Intervention Team training and Mayday procedures, Suicide Intervention, Domestic Violence, AMTRACK and Passenger Train Emergency Training, Critical Incident Stress Management, and multiple NIMS/ICS classes.
During these last eight years, Justin developed a passion for learning and for teaching, which helped fuel the founding of American Emergency Preparedness.

FAQ

  • State Accreditation

    This is dependent on the state in which you work - please reach out to [email protected] to confirm whether this course can be used to count towards CLE credit in your state.

  • How long do I have to take this course after I purchase it?

    Depending on the course, we will have recommended completion times, however check with your agency to confirm the amount of time allotted for your training experience.

  • What forms of payment can be used to purchase access to this course?

    For individuals taking this course, we accept payment through Stripe, PayPal, or credit card. If you are part of an agency looking to bulk enroll students in this or any other course, call 401-344-0054 or email [email protected].

  • How do I contact support?

    If you have any issues with your online training experience, please contact us at [email protected] and a representative will assist you in making your learning experience as effective as possible.

Discover your potential, starting today.

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