A Crisis in 911 Emergency Call Centers

The National Emergency Number Association (NENA) recently released a study reporting that over 80% of 911 call centers across the country are understaffed and underfunded. There are simply not enough operators and dispatchers in the 911 system.

For example, Montgomery County in Maryland, which fields 2,200 calls to 911 every day, has seen staffing levels decline 47% in the past year.

The reason revolves around long shifts, mandatory overtime, low pay and abusive behavior faced by the dispatchers.

At the same time, there is a shortage of emergency medical technicians (EMTs), especially in rural America. The combination puts millions of Americans at risk during a medical emergency, especially in a potential life or death situation.