Following the tragedy, the fatal car accident that claimed eight lives of the Atias family in Tiveria last month, Israel Police is moving ahead to train its 100 (equivalent of 911 in Israel) dispatchers to handle emergencies, such as the phone call that came minutes before the crash seeking assistance in steering the van after its brakes failed.

Amazingly, Israel Police emergency dispatchers are not trained for such a scenario to date. It appears there is now an increased awareness that that dispatchers are often found speaking with people in life and death situations seeking assistance, as was the case here.

Police signal the new program will be comprehensive and prepare dispatchers to handle phone emergencies with a high standard of competence and professionalism.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)