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Charlotte County E911 dispatchers will have another tool at the end of the line to help callers in the event of an emergency. 

With a grant funded by the Rescue Squad Assistance Fund, the E911 dispatch center will be upgraded with Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) software.

According to E911 coordinator Chris Russell, the dispatch training and computer software will help dispatchers properly determine the nature and priority of the 911 call, the appropriate response, and then give the caller instructions to help treat the patient until a squad arrives.

“Giving dispatchers the ability to give emergency medical instructions over the phone for patients while waiting for first responders to arrive will undoubtedly save lives,” Russell said.

The EMD technology was funded with an 80% grant of $47,927 and a 20% local match from the county of $11,990.

Russell said the new technology is expected to be installed in the second half of this year.