People calling up 911 during an emergency have a tough time explaining clearly what has transpired with them and the kind of help they require. For dispatchers, it’s often difficult to clearly understand critical details of an emergency like street names even when the person who requires help is speaking a language which the dispatcher understands. Matters become extremely difficult to handle when the caller speaks a foreign language.
In many cases, such callers may speak in broken English or communicate through their children or other relatives. They might also avail the option of telephone translation services which is paid for by the law enforcement agency. These methods may get the job done but they can be time consuming (taking at least twice as long) which can exacerbate an already critical situation.
According of Sioux City authorities, language barriers are increasingly creating additional hurdles in providing emergency services to the residents. The city has a sizable Spanish speaking population but only half a dozen police officers who can speak or understand the language. Furthermore, the city does not have any dispatcher who can speak Spanish fluently. The Woodbury County Communications Center which is responsible for dispatching police officers, sheriff’s deputies, paramedics and firefighters has been trying its best to get employees with fluency in a second language but it has not had much success.
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