APCO PST1 flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

ANI

Automatic Number Identification: the telephone number of the calling party, delivered to the PSAP by the telephone network and displayed so the telecommunicator can call the person back.

ALI

Automatic Location Identification: the subscriber street address associated with the calling number, displayed with the ANI on wireline 9-1-1 calls and used to route the response.

Wireless Phase I

Wireless 9-1-1 service that delivers the caller's callback number and the cell site or sector handling the call, typically accurate only to a few miles.

Wireless Phase II

Wireless 9-1-1 service that delivers an estimated latitude and longitude for the handset, usually within 50 to 300 meters depending on technology and environment.

TTY/TDD

Text telephone used by deaf and hard-of-hearing callers; it sends Baudot code at 45.45 baud using 1400 and 1800 Hz tones, and turns are taken by typing.

NG9-1-1

Internet Protocol-based next generation 9-1-1 that carries voice, text, images, and video to the PSAP and allows calls to be rerouted when a center is unavailable.

Phonetic alphabet

Standard spelling alphabet using Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and so on, used to spell names, plates, and codes so poor audio does not turn letters into errors.

Plain language

Common terminology used instead of ten-codes during multi-agency and multi-discipline incidents. NIMS requires it so responders from different agencies understand each other.

Say again

Radio procedure phrase asking the other station to repeat its last transmission. It is preferred over 'repeat,' which has a separate military meaning.

Emergency traffic

Announcement that clears a radio channel immediately for a life-safety transmission. All other units stop transmitting until the control operator releases the channel.

Ten-codes

Numeric brevity codes whose meanings differ between agencies and regions. Because the same code can mean opposite things, they are avoided in multi-agency operations.

Open-ended question

A question beginning with tell, explain, or describe that invites a narrative answer and cannot be satisfied with a simple yes or no.

Closed-ended question

A question that can be answered with a short, specific response such as yes, no, or a number, used to confirm and clarify details already gathered.

Call control

The telecommunicator's use of direct, scripted questions, calm repetition, and firm redirection to keep an upset caller focused so the call moves toward dispatch.

Callback number

The telephone number where the caller can be reached again. It must be confirmed verbally on every call and is not the same as the displayed ANI.

Interview versus interrogation

An interview gathers facts from cooperative people; an interrogation is accusatory questioning of a suspect. Telecommunicators normally conduct interviews, not interrogations.

CJIS Security Policy

FBI policy setting minimum safeguards for criminal justice information, including fingerprint background checks, security awareness training within six months, and refresher training every two years.

Duty to act

Legal obligation to respond or intervene, created by statute, agency policy, or the telecommunicator's assigned role rather than by any general duty to rescue.

Negligence elements

Four elements must be proven: a duty owed, a breach of that duty, causation connecting the breach to the harm, and actual damages.

Need-to-know

Principle limiting access to protected information to people who require it to do their official jobs. Sharing outside that group can violate law and agency policy.

NCIC

National Crime Information Center, the FBI database of wanted persons, stolen vehicles, and property. Queries must serve criminal justice purposes, and misuse is a criminal offense.

Span of control

Incident Command System guideline that one supervisor can effectively manage three to seven subordinates, with five as the target ratio for most incidents.

Unified Command

ICS structure in which agencies with jurisdiction or responsibility set joint objectives and strategy while sharing one command post and a single set of incident priorities.

Emergency Operations Center

Facility where officials coordinate policy, resources, and public information to support the on-scene Incident Commander. It does not direct tactical field operations.

Four phases of emergency management

Mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. They organize activities taken before, during, and after an incident to reduce loss and restore services.

MOU

Memorandum of Understanding: a written agreement between agencies describing responsibilities, shared resources, costs, and limits for mutual aid or joint operations.

ESF-2

Emergency Support Function 2 under the National Response Framework. It coordinates communications and information systems among responding agencies during a national-level incident.

Cumulative stress

Stress that builds from routine occupational pressures such as heavy call volume, shift rotation, and understaffing, gradually eroding health, judgment, and performance.

Defusing

Brief, confidential peer contact held within a few hours of a critical incident to stabilize personnel, reduce acute distress, and identify anyone needing further support.

Critical incident stress debriefing

Structured group discussion held about 24 to 72 hours after a traumatic event, led by trained peers or clinicians and followed by referral and follow-up.

Compassion fatigue

Emotional and physical exhaustion from prolonged exposure to other people's trauma, showing as detachment, irritability, intrusive thoughts, and reduced empathy for callers.

Burnout

Chronic state of exhaustion, cynicism, and reduced effectiveness caused by prolonged unmanaged job stress, distinguished from an acute reaction to a single incident.