Processes and recommendations below were developed jointly with GMVEMSC, MMRS, RPAB, Public Health, law enforcement, and dispatch. Remember that dispatch centers are critical infrastructure! A list of precautions for the center and your personnel is below.
Each agency and Dispatch Center must determine their own course of action, and should discuss this with the medical director, but effective immediately we recommend that public safety dispatch centers throughout the region incorporate the following guidance.
Dispatch Center Considerations
Dispatch centers and dispatch/call-taking personnel are critical infrastructure! Take all appropriate precautions including:
1. Restrict access; only allow entry by essential persons.
2. Frequent hand hygiene. Hand-washing with soap and water is slightly more protective against COVID than use of hand sanitizer. Use both frequently.
3. Remind each other to perform hand hygiene and not to touch your face.
4. Sanitize work areas frequently, especially headsets, keyboards, desktops, telephones, etc.
5. Don’t forget to sanitize your personal cell phone.
6. Anyone who is ill must not report for work.
7. Consider developing employee screening before each person reports to work. Anyone who is ill should not be allowed to enter the dispatch center.
- Employee screening processes should include a standard for when the employee may return to work, such as requiring that the employee be symptom-free for 72 hours without use of medications (such as Tylenol, Motrin, or cough suppressant) that mask symptoms.
8. Consider the potential for some personnel (e.g., administrators) to work from home.