Answering 911: Life in the Hot Seat

"Answering 911: Life in the Hot Seat" offers a compelling and eye-opening look into the challenging world of emergency dispatchers. Through captivating storytelling and firsthand accounts, this book takes readers on a journey through the high-pressure and emotionally charged experiences of those who answer emergency calls. The author's ability to convey the intensity and responsibility of the job is remarkable, providing a deep appreciation for the crucial role these unsung heroes play in our communities. From heart-wrenching calls to moments of relief and triumph, each chapter offers a glimpse into the rollercoaster of emotions that dispatchers face on a daily basis. This memoir also delves into the toll this demanding career can take on personal relationships and mental well-being, shedding light on the often overlooked challenges these professionals encounter. "Answering 911" is a captivating and thought-provoking read that will leave you with a newfound respect for the dedicated individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes to keep us safe. If you're curious about the world of emergency dispatch and crave a deeper understanding of the human stories that unfold during these critical moments, this book is a must-read.

It’s a great book for anyone thinking of becoming a dispatcher. The stories are vivid and really put you in her shoes. The only downside is the occasional grammar errors that take you out of your imagination. Other than the few I found, there aren’t too many, the books is great.If you’re interested in becoming a dispatcher or just wondering what goes on when you call 911 I’d definitely recommend this book.

This book was definitely a 5 star read for me on so many different levels. It takes you into the heart of the most unsung heroes in the emergency services world.I want to start this out by telling you that I was once in this position and did not handle it with the grace and dignity that Caroline does. Although it did validate the problems I had as a 911 dispatcher and left me feeling better about my stab at being a dispatcher myself! I could totally relate to much of this book.This books starts with the author feeling that she needed to help people but could not handle the sight of blood when in college to become a nurse. Then she becomes a newspaper writer working the crime beat and the 911 job falls into her lap.This book is full of the ups and downs that come along with the job. The way people treat you when you are as she calls it a “phleb” or “newbie” by police, firefighters, and your coworkers when you first start. Then the way the callers treat you and the horrific sounds you sometimes hear as a 911 operator and so on.This job is very intense and leaves you wiped out at the end of a shift. She talks about balancing work and the drain of the job and the eventual burnout that turns you into a red hot mess.This is a must read for everyone. These people do terrific work that lives with them the rest of their lives. I know it does mine. It is also the kind of job that sucks you in and becomes almost like an addiction. At least it did for me and her as well. I would go back to being a 911 dispatcher in a nanosecond.I cannot wait to read her follow up book called Tell Me Exactly What Happened: Dispatches from 911!!

This book definitely touches on what we experience as 911 dispatchers. It was funny, heartfelt and overall, a fantastic book!

It sounds so cheesy, but... I have laughed, cried, rolled my eyes, felt anger/happiness/sadness - feels kind of like a shift at work, ha! I’ve been dispatching for 4 years now and started pretty young with no experience. I related to A LOT of her observations and it’s amazing how the experiences seem similar across the board. It’s nice to know someone else has felt these roller coaster emotions! It can be hard to talk to my friends & family about the job, so this book validated a lot of my early-on feelings.We’ve since hired a few more new people, including 1 very quiet girl who reminds me of myself, and I’ve decided to gift this book to her. I hope it helps her (or anyone, really!) decide that they should stick it out for this job & things will start coming easier and you’ll gain that confidence you see in others as they answer the phones and radios (at the same time).I absolutely recommend this book to anyone in a Dispatch field.

If you're in the mood for an exhilarating, fly-by-the-seat of your pants book about hilarious, crazy and heart-wrenching 911 calls, this book isn't for you. You certainly won't have any water cooler-type stories to tell your workmates. However, this a good read to get the human side of emergency responders, especially for this author who has an interesting back story.This is an easy read for anyone, and brings to light many sociological ideas on society, parenting and relationships. Not exactly what you'd expect from a 911 book. Overall, a decent book that explores more than just gory suicides, armed robberies and car chases.

I start my Dispatcher journey on Aug. 29th and have been gobbling up video after podcast after article trying to get exactly what this book provides. Even if the specifics will be different, the gist is all I needed. A look into the process, the flow, the day-to-day in the raw. It was fantastically written. Smooth, clear, and entertaining. Thank you so much!

True description of what the job truly is and all the emotional ups and downs. #iam911Thank you to all dispatchers

Very very good I bought this after hearing the author on a podcast called Within the Trenches

Good book for what it is. Short read. Grabs your attention.

A+