Suicidal Callers

Suicidal callers are desperate and don’t know where to turn. When they call 9-1-1, it is imperative that the 9-1-1 Emergency Communication Professional can build rapport with the caller and gain valuable information for the responders to get the caller the help they need.

Course Length: 8 Hours
Equivalent to TCOLE Course Number: #5307

Students who complete this course should  be able to:

• discuss reasons people commit suicide
• define words associated with suicide
• recite important statistics regarding suicides
• list risk factors and warning signs for suicide
• discuss sudden improvement as a warning sign
• explain the different reasons for suicide among the elderly and the young
• recognize the stages of a crisis
• list ways to effectively handle suicidal callers
• explain ways to build rapport
• explain ways to locate a suicidal caller
• to relate instructions for a person reporting a completed suicide
•  discuss the potential for suicide by cop
• relate the danger of chemical suicide to responders

Application

Students will complete various worksheets covering course material. Students will listen to suicide related 9-1-1 calls and discuss the calls with the class.

Instructor

Tina Chaffin started her career with 9-1-1 in 1996 in Plano, Texas. Throughout childhood, Tina wanted to be a teacher. Sitting in classroom training on the first day of 9-1-1 training, she made a goal. The goal was to be the person who teaches 9-1- 1 Emergency Communication Professionals (ECPs). Tina is extremely passionate about the 9-1-1 profession and advocates for ECPs in many ways. Tina is the Past-President of the Texas 9-1-1 Trainer (TNT) group and has been involved with the group for over 15 years. Tina founded the National 9-1-1 Trainer Forum, holding a yearly conference for 9- 1-1 trainers from around the nation. Tina is also involved with APCO International Committees and has published numerous articles in the APCO Magazine. Tina firmly believes in the recognition of ECPs and pushes the topic every chance she gets. Recently Tina launched an online training site, intending to provide relevant, quality, low-cost training for ECPs around the United States.

Since 1996, Tina has worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher, call-taker, and trainer for large and small cities alike. She also has experience working as a ECP at an International Airport and a 4-year college. Tina currently works in an Emergency Communications Center (ECC), dispatching police and fire, to ensure her skills are up-to-date.

Tina has provided classroom training for the majority of her career. Additionally, Tina has presented at National and State conferences throughout the US. In addition to working in an ECC, Tina currently trains an average of 650 hours per year.

Licenses/Certifications

• NENA Emergency Number Professional (ENP)
• APCO Registered Public Safety Leader (RPL)
• Master Telecommunicator License
• Advanced TCOLE Instructor
• Texas DPS TCIC/TLETS Instructor
• Instructor for National Center for Missing and Exploited Children course for ECPs

Special Instructions

Dress Code: To promote a professional training environment, CAPCOG requires proper attire.  Attendee must provide their PID # to receive TCOLE credit for courses taken through CAPCOG. CAPCOG provides training for the Emergency Communication Centers (ECC) in our region at no cost to 9-1-1 telecommunicators and their departments. When space is reserved for a 9-1-1 training class offered by CAPCOG, students or the supervisor who made the reservation must cancel such reservation at least two business days prior to start of the class.

For Questions

Contact Pamela Frisk, CAPCOG. 9-1-1 Training & Public Education Coordinator.