Douglas County 911 Emergency Communications Achieves Third Re-Accreditation in Emergency Fire Dispatch
Douglas County, NV – Douglas County 911 Emergency Communications is proud to announce its third re-accreditation in Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD) through the International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED), reaffirming the department’s continued commitment to excellence in emergency communications and public safety.
Douglas County 911 Emergency Communications serves as the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for Douglas County, Nevada and Alpine County, California, providing emergency and non-emergency dispatch services for multiple law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical agencies across the region. The center operates 24 hours a day and is responsible for answering and processing calls for service for numerous partner agencies, ensuring rapid coordination of emergency response resources throughout the community.
Douglas County 911 Emergency Communications is recognized as an Accredited Center of Excellence (ACE) through the IAED for both Emergency Fire Dispatch (EFD) and Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) disciplines. The department has maintained EFD ACE accreditation since 2015 and EMD ACE accreditation since 2017, demonstrating long-standing dedication to internationally recognized standards for emergency dispatch services.
Maintaining ACE accreditation is a significant achievement. Agencies must meet IAED’s Twenty Points of Accreditation, a comprehensive set of requirements that evaluate:
- Call-taker compliance and protocol adherence
- Quality assurance and improvement programs
- Training and continuing education
- Certification maintenance
- Reporting and performance metrics
- Policies and procedures
- Ethical standards and code of conduct
- Ongoing operational excellence
Each accreditation cycle lasts three years, after which agencies must undergo a rigorous re-accreditation process to maintain their status.
Douglas County 911 Emergency Communications utilizes IAED’s Priority Dispatch protocols for police, fire, and medical emergencies. These protocols provide structured, evidence-based questioning and allow dispatchers to deliver life-saving instructions to callers while first responders are enroute.
These pre-arrival instructions may include:
- CPR and AED guidance
- Heimlich maneuver and choking assistance
- Childbirth instructions
- Bleeding control and tourniquet application
- Structure fire survival instructions
- Active shooter guidance
- Burn treatment
- And many other critical emergency interventions
Through the use of these protocols, Douglas County dispatchers have been credited with CPR saves, providing immediate assistance during critical emergencies before responders arrive on scene.
“Maintaining Accredited Center of Excellence status reflects the professionalism and dedication of our dispatch team,” said Emergency Communications Quality Assurance Supervisor Kaitlyn Mariskanish. “Our telecommunicators are the first first-responders, and this achievement demonstrates their commitment to delivering the highest level of service to the residents and visitors of Douglas County and Alpine County.”
Achieving a third re-accreditation in Emergency Fire Dispatch underscores Douglas County 911 Emergency Communications’ ongoing commitment to public safety, continuous improvement, and providing the highest standard of emergency communications services to the community.
About Douglas County 911 Emergency Communications
Douglas County 911 Emergency Communications is a consolidated regional communications center serving Douglas County, Nevada and Alpine County, California. The center provides emergency dispatch services for law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical agencies and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The department is committed to professionalism, innovation, and excellence in emergency communications.