Which statement best describes the Priority Dispatch System?

• A. It prioritizes responses based on urgency and nature of incidents.
• B. It assigns responders randomly to calls.
• C. It delays non-emergency calls until after a supervisor review.
• D. It handles only mutual aid requests.

Answer: (A)

The Priority Dispatch System is a standardized, protocol-based method that guides dispatchers in evaluating each incoming call to determine how urgent it is and what resources are appropriate. By asking targeted questions and applying preset criteria, it assigns a priority level that reflects both the severity of the incident and the type of response required. This ensures that fire and EMS resources are directed to the most critical situations first and that responses are matched to needs rather than being random or delayed by supervisor review. It helps maintain consistency across calls and prevents misallocation of units.