IAED EFD study plan

Map the full EFD calltaking workflow from call answer through dispatch and unit acknowledgement, writing each handoff step in your own words

Define the roles of calltaker, dispatcher, and incident commander, and state where EFD authority ends and field command begins

List the information elements that must be captured on every fire call (location, callback, nature, occupants, hazards) and practice reciting them from memory

Build a personal glossary of 25 fire-service terms you will use on calls, such as structure fire, working fire, MABAS, and mutual aid

Identify the components of a complete incident location and describe how to confirm it when the caller is vague or panicked

Demonstrate question sequencing that gathers life-safety information first and location second when the caller is hysterical

Explain how to handle third-party and language-line calls, including what to ask the interpreter to relay first

Practice handling a caller who does not know the address by using landmarks, cross streets, and business names

Distinguish the major fire incident types (residential, commercial, vehicle, wildland, hazardous materials) and the response each typically triggers

Describe how a structure fire report differs from a smoke investigation or alarm activation report in urgency and resource assignment

Explain the concept of alarm assignment levels and how a dispatcher escalates from a single company to a full assignment

Identify the common caller misperceptions that lead to under-reporting a fire (smell of smoke, alarm sounding, small flame) and how to probe them

Describe the dispatch process from incident creation to unit en route, including what must be broadcast and what can wait

Explain how to relay a size-up or update to responding units without dropping critical details

Practice reading back a dispatch order accurately under time pressure using a self-timed drill

Identify the information a fireground commander needs from dispatch in the first two minutes

List the situations that require immediate notification of a supervisor, chief, or outside agency and state why each is time-sensitive

Explain how to coordinate mutual aid or automatic aid requests, including what the receiving agency needs to know

Describe the process for notifying utilities, hospitals, or law enforcement during a working fire

Distinguish between a routine notification and an emergency notification in tone and channel

Explain how to manage a caller who is trapped or injured, including what instructions can and cannot be given before units arrive

Describe how to handle a call that turns out to be a false alarm, a prank, or a duplicate report of the same incident

Practice handling a caller who hangs up mid-call and the steps to re-establish contact

Identify the safety and liability concerns around giving first-aid or evacuation instructions over the phone

Review your notes across weeks 1 through 6 and identify the three weakest areas by self-test

Re-drill the weakest areas with timed practice until each is completed without reference material

Explain the difference between a dispatch priority and a response priority, and how the two interact

Describe how to document a call so the record supports later review or investigation

Simulate a full shift of mixed calls, rotating through fire, medical-assist, and false-alarm scenarios without notes

Demonstrate accurate dispatch broadcasts and escalation decisions in a timed mock scenario

Recite your calltaking checklist and escalation trigger list from memory

Identify remaining knowledge gaps and write a short plan for continued practice after the exam