Ride-alongs return to Kansas City Scout

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Ride-alongs with Emergency Response operators have returned to KC Scout after previously being suspended due to the severity of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ride-alongs provide firsthand experience and insight into the challenges and gratification that Emergency Response staff encounters on a daily basis. 

According to Traffic Systems Supervisor, Kelly Alvarez, the ride-alongs are traditionally completed by newer TMC (Traffic Management Center) operators, however, all KC Scout personnel are encouraged to participate.

"Ride-alongs provide operators with a rare cross-training experience while also allowing our Emergency Response operators and TMC operators to meet face to face. It's vital that our newer operators gain an understanding of what it is like to be a first responder in order to do their job effectively," Alvarez explains. 

While the TMC operators and Emergency Responder operators share the same end game, the two roles are very different from one another.

Being a TMC operator is a challenging and fast paced job, but according to KC Scout, it's easy to become complacent in the safety and comfort of the Traffic Management Center.

"It's extremely helpful for TMC operators to have an understanding of what Emergency Response operators experience in their daily environment out on the roadways. There is a natural bond between dispatch and first response operators. Scout and ER/MAVs are no exception. Ride-alongs are simply a resource used to establish or strengthen that bond’s foundation,” Alvarez explained.

KC Scout's Incident Management Coordinator Marcus Slaughter, couldn't agree more.

"It's imperative that we keep the TMC and our ER operators engaged with one another," said Slaughter.

"Now that pandemic restrictions have eased up, it’s extremely important that we get our staff back together to continue building relationships and deepening the understanding between the office and the field. There’s no better way to do this than by communication, collaboration and cooperation which are key fundamentals to effective traffic incident management," he said.

This type of team work and care for one another is what keeps KC Scout, MoDOT Emergency Response, and KDOT Motorist Assist, running safely and smoothly.

If you are interested in a ride-along with Emergency Response, you can contact Marcus Slaughter by e-mail: marcus.slaughter@modot.mo.gov.

 


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