A Spring DLab Case Study
Many people are familiar with first responders, but what about dispatchers? Dispatchers are responsible for aiding 911 callers and sending help their way.
This design team focused on the experiences and mental and physical health of 911 dispatchers. One common theme was stress, especially after critical incident (high-risk) calls. Because dispatchers are so busy, they often lack time for self-care which can lead to health issues. With this focus, the team asked, How might we help 911 dispatchers cope with calls, knowing that they don’t always de-stress in healthy ways?
Within the Ada County Dispatch Center, there are two small “quiet rooms.” When the team first saw the rooms, they were bare and uninviting. The team decided to decorate the rooms with blackout curtains, an essential oil diffuser, a yoga mat, and bluetooth speakers with calming music to provide dispatchers places they could go when feeling stressed during the day.
Design Team: Berkeley M., Grace S., Halli M., May D.
