CAPCOG provides stress coping courses for 9-1-1 call takers

CAPCOG’s Emergency Communications Division is hosting two, eight-hour courses in June to help emergency telecommunicators better manage job stress and protect their emotional and mental wellbeing. The Power of 9-1-1 Peer Support will be on June 17 and Resilience: Transforming Stress into Strength will be on June 28; both will be held at CAPCOG, 6800 Burleson Road, building 310, suite 165 in Austin.

“Being an emergency telecommunicator is highly demanding job with burst of adrenaline as 9-1-1 call takers answer panicked calls often hearing gunfire, physical assaults, and crying,” said Pamela Frisk, CAPCOG emergency communications training and public education coordinator. “They receive constant secondary exposure to trauma as a result of caring for others which leads to a great deal of stress. CAPCOG wants emergency telecommunicators to know they are not alone and wants them to learn how to manage and improve stress levels to stay healthy — physically and mentally.”

The Power of 9-1-1 Peer Support focuses on how emergency call center employees can lead each other through hardships and reduce stress. It covers topics such as using peer support to create a positive work atmosphere, clarifying the critical importance of confidentiality, honoring confidentiality in complicated situations, and guiding peers to professional assistance if needed. Transforming Stress into Strength teaches how an individual can better manage their stress. It covers how stress is created and how it’s affects the body and mind, as well as how to reduce stress through breathing, mediation, nutrition and movement. Emergency Telecommunicators can register for these course and others at training.capcog.org/by-topic/911-emergency-services.