Hope For First RespondersSýnishorn

Helplessness

Dispatchers for 911 calls deal with a lot of challenges. They don't just listen to callers, wish them the best, and hang up. They must put their training into action (James 2:14-17). Life-altering decisions are made every minute—putting their skills and resources to work. The stress is so intense many don’t last more than two years before leaving. Working nights compounds the issue as the weirdos come out at night.

Jannette, a dispatcher, knows full well the stress her job entails. "Once the police or ambulance arrives on the scene, I don't know if someone lived or died."

Janette continues, “One time after midnight we got three calls at once. One from the owner of a house that had just been hit by a semi-truck, one from the neighbor, and one from the driver who was trapped in the cab.

“I was on that call. The man was trapped in the cab and was more worried about the people in the house than himself. He kept saying, 'I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.' Then he starts screaming, ‘Oh God. I can smell the diesel. I'm going to die. I'm gonna die in here.’

“I was trying to calm him down, but it ignited before the fire department got there. I can still hear the explosion, him screaming, then nothing. I hung up and walked away. I didn't come back until my next shift.”

For 911 operators, there's often nothing they can do. Yet they are the ones from whom the caller expects miracles. Bible passages like Proverbs 3:27, remind us that one crucial way to demonstrate compassion is to take action and lend a helping hand. Dispatching help into your community is a powerful act. It may not always be easy, but God calls upon all of us to serve others. And he will be with us when we do (Isaiah 41:13).

Whatever your job, as a first responder, daily you're helping people to face life's big problems and emergencies. That's a respectable and heroic calling, even if you may feel helpless to change a situation. Place all those frustrations in God's lap, for he can do miracles, and ultimately, it’s his job.

What boundaries might you need to ensure that you avoid burnout in your job? Explore ways you can debrief with God after hectic incidents.