Health in the dispatch center is a huge issue. Along with the massive amount of stress that the job offers there are also bad eating habits and minimal exercise opportunities while working. But what if there was something you could do about the exercise aspect of it? What if you had a treadmill or exercise bike attached to your console? Xybix, a dispatch furniture company has taken on the task of assisting in dispatchers’ health with the attachment of a treadmill or bike.

This past week I had the chance to meet with Kathleen, Director of Marketing with Xybix to talk about their product as well as try it out for myself on the showroom floor during the 2014 NENA National conference. In this episode we learn about the company as well as some facts and frequently asked questions about the treadmill and bike. The company also publishes blogs with health topics and techniques for the dispatch center.

This is a must listen and share! For more information on Xybix please follow the links below and as always, if you have any questions please email us at wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Xybix – Web | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | YouTube

Episode topics –

• Xybix history
• Customer feedback
• Treadmill facts
• Xybix blogs
• Frequently Asked Questions

This is episode 66 of Within the Trenches and this is a special episode. Since the beginning of my show I have had people helping me out and giving me advice. One of those people is Mark Fletcher with Avaya. I’ve been on his podcast a few times and this time it was my turn to have him as a guest. Mark is the Chief Architect for Worldwide Public Safety Solutions at Avaya as well as the program director of the longest running Public Safety podcast on the Avaya Podcast Network. We sat down and talked all things 9-1-1 including NENA, ENP certification, Kari’s Law and more.

This is a must listen so check it out and share. As always you can email the show at wttpodcast@gmail.com and if you would like to learn more about Mark and Kari’s Law follow the links below.

Kari’s Law – Web (sign the petition at Change.org) | Facebook

Mark Fletcher/APN – Web | APN -E911 Podcast | Facebook | Twitter

Episode topics -

• Mark's start in the 9-1-1 community
• Mark's motivation to work hard to improve 9-1-1
• Kari's Law
• ENP certification

Welcome back to another episode of Within the Trenches. This is episode 65 and I have to say right off the bat that there was an issue with this one. As you heard in episode 64 we had to redo the entire thing due to a subject who showed up and was drowning out the microphones. Some knobs were turned down and one of them was never turned back up so some audio is missing. I do apologize but it’s still an awesome one so check it out and share.

In this episode I spoke with Rob, Director of Vigo County 911 in Indiana and National NENA North Central Region Director and Lori, Training Coordinator with INdigital telecom. I have been trying to get Lori on an episode for a long time now and it killed me that her audio is missing but only until 11 or so minutes in. After that you can hear her and the stories are good.

As always you can email the show at wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Episode topics –

• Rob’s wrestling  persona
• Lori’s dispatch story (audio low)
• Pregnancy calls
• Text to 9-1-1

Good afternoon! This episode is sponsored by NENA and INdigital. I am currently in Nashville, TN for the 2014 National NENA Conference and this is just one of a series of episodes I’m recording here. In this episode I spoke with Dana, a dispatcher with Sumpter County Sheriff’s Office out of Florida and a Friends of 911 Scholarship winner. This is a must listen for anyone looking for information on not only the conference but how to apply for next years Friends of 9-1-1 scholarship. We also spoke briefly on the Mini-C that Dana attended back in April and the hard work that Tom of the Cool Kids of 9-1-1 puts into the conference.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to be a guest on the show, send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

The Cool Kids of 9-1-1 - Web | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Dana (Dispatch Dana) - Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Episode topics -

Dana recap of the Mini-C

Friends of 9-1-1 Scholarship Process

CMCP certification

Where Dana sees herself in 9-1-1

Drunk dial 9-1-1 tape (Thanks Justin!)

Good morning! This episode is sponsored by NENA and INdigital. I am currently in Nashville, TN for the 2014 National NENA Conference and this is the first of a series of episodes I’m recording here. In this episode I spoke with Brandy, a dispatcher with Licking County 911 Center out of Ohio and a Friends of 911 Scholarship winner. This is a must listen for anyone looking for information on not only the conference but how to apply for next years Friends of 9-1-1 scholarship.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to be a guest on the show, send an email to wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Episode topics -

• Brandy’s dispatch story
• Friends of 9-1-1 Scholarship process
• Giving your name when speaking to someone you know on 9-1-1
• Networking with other dispatchers

Good afternoon and happy Friday! This episode will be the final episode from the Indiana NENA conference. It was an excellent time and I can’t wait for next year! In this episode I spoke with Jeanene and Kelsie, dispatchers with Vigo County Central Dispatch. This episode is as real as it gets. It’s a look at true stories as well as the humor that goes with the job. It’s not just about being great at what dispatchers do; it’s about the humor needed to make it through this very stressful job. I commend you both for the job you do and all the dispatchers I met in Indiana.

Make sure to listen, share and as always you can email the show at wttpodcast@gmail.com

Episode topics –

• How Jeanene got her start
• How Kelsie got her start
• Dispatch calls
• Domestic bedpan
• Burglar ice pops

Good afternoon and welcome back to another awesome episode of Within the Trenches. It has been a pretty busy week with the announcement of Indiana's statewide text-to-9-1-1 plan  but I now have time so I'm posting a brand new episode from Indiana's NENA conference. In this episode I spoke with Jessica, a dispatcher / CTO with Kosciusko 9-1-1 Communications. Jessica was honored during the opening ceremony with a few others where she received the Teamwork Award. Jessica shares how she got started in 9-1-1, calls she's taken as well as the details of her teamwork award.

Make sure to check this out and share it. As always you can email the show at wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Episode topics -

• How Jessica got her start
• Dispatch experience
• Teamwork Award

Good afternoon and welcome back to another episode of Within the Trenches. This episode brings us closer to the end of my time at Indiana’s NENA conference. My time there was inspiring, educational and I can’t wait for next year. The stories covered have been amazing and today’s episode is right up there with the best of them.

In this episode I had the chance to speak to Kimberly, a dispatcher/CTO with Jennings County 9-1-1, John, director with Jefferson County 9-1-1 and Nicole, Assistant Director with Montgomery County Communications Center. We reflected on the beginning of their careers along with some hard calls and advice/techniques on how to deal with them.

This is an episode you don’t want to miss! As always you can email the show at wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Episode topics –

• How each guest started in 9-1-1
• Training techniques
• Dealing with hard calls
• The importance of attending a NENA conference

Within the Trenches is back with episode 59! This is just one of several episodes recorded last week during the Indiana NENA state conference. In this episode I sat down to talk with Julie, Deputy Director with Bartholomew 9-1-1 Center and Claudia who is a dispatcher with Fayette County Communications. We share stories of messing up on the mic, burnout and how to deal with hitting a rough patch and renewing your love for dispatch. 

This is a must listen so check it out and share! As always you can email the show at wttpodcast@gmail.com. 

Episode topics -

• How Julie started in 9-1-1
• How Claudia started in 9-1-1
• Messing up on the mic
• Burnout 

Within the Trenches is back with episode 58! This is just one of several episodes recorded last week during the Indiana NENA state conference. In this episode I sat down to talk with Amy, Amanda and Wendy, supervisors with Bartholomew County 9-1-1 Center. We look back at their start in 9-1-1, the classes they attended at the conference and we listened to a 9-1-1 tape that featured Wendy helping with the delivery of a baby girl.

This is an episode you do not want to miss! Listen, share and as always you can email the show at wttpodcast@gmail.com.

Episode topics –

• How each supervisor started in 9-1-1
• Conference classes
• 9-1-1 birth tape featuring Wendy