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America's 911 call centers are facing an unprecedented staffing emergency according to a new nationwide survey. Across the country, the average vacancy rate at 911 Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs) has soared to 25% - meaning 1 in 4 dispatcher positions are going unfilled.
The ripple effects of this staffing shortage are severely impacting emergency response capabilities. Over a third of 911 centers actually had fewer dispatchers in 2022 than in 2019. Overworked and understaffed, PSAPs are being forced to rely on temporary band-aids like mandatory overtime (used by 70.7% of centers surveyed) and reassigning field responders (16.3%) to keep up with overwhelming call volumes.
This unsustainable situation is putting lives at risk by leaving emergency callers stuck on hold while non-emergency callers flood the lines. According to the survey, the top reasons for this "exodus" of 911 staff include stressful working conditions, poor work/life balance, uncompetitive pay, and increased responsibilities.
Fortunately, there is a solution that addresses all of these pain points head-on: Dispatch AI, the leading artificial intelligence agent for handling non-emergency calls. By seamlessly integrating with existing 911 systems, Dispatch AI can automatically answer and triage non-emergency administrative calls, alleviating this massive workload from overextended human dispatchers.
Dispatch AI: The Solution to the Nation's 911 Staffing Crisis. Watch this demo video:
The impact is transformative:
Reduced Staffing Burdens & Costs Dispatch AI requires no salary, benefits or overtime pay - eliminating the need to overspend on temporary staffing solutions. This allows PSAPs to operate leaner while reallocating resources to focus on emergency response.
Decreased Wait TimesWith non-emergency calls intelligently handled, human dispatchers experience far fewer distractions and reduced hold queues for bringing the utmost focus to crisis situations.
Improved Workforce Conditions By offloading non-emergency responsibilities, the work/life balance and daily stresses on dispatchers are significantly improved - a key factor in preventing burnout and attrition.
The nationwide 911 staffing survey paints a grim picture, but AI call handling with Dispatch AI provides the answer PSAPs desperately need. This force-multiplying technology allows existing staff to operate at peak capacity while delivering optimal emergency response.
As vulnerable 911 systems across the country risk failure without staffing solutions, now is the time to explore the game-changing possibilities of Dispatch AI. Reduce unsustainable costs, improve working conditions, and most importantly, ensure every single emergency caller gets the rapid response they deserve.
Take action today by visiting:
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