This is not SOP.  Let’s start with that. 

The number of cases is unprecedented.


Dispatch

You are unnecessarily putting clients at risk if:

  • You have dispatched in high caseloads for over 1-1.5 hours
  • You begin making mistakes and make more than 2 or 3 in a short period(say ten minutes)
  • You have lost several clients in one session and mean to just soldier on.

If you notice this about yourself, take a step back and reflect.  If it is time for a break, throw a hatsignal, and hand over your case load gracefully, informing your new dispatch of what is going on. It is important to take breaks at regular intervals to avoid becoming too distressed and risking the potential of a burn out.  

If you notice this about another dispatcher, ping the op you have seen most recently so that the situation can be appropriately assessed and handled.


Ratting

You are unnecessarily putting clients at risk if:

  • You have ratted for more than 1.5-2 hours without taking a rest
  • You begin making mistakes and make more than 1-2 mistakes on a single case
  • You have lost several clients and continue to call jumps without taking a break


Some Friendly Tips for All

It is important to remember that you’re not here to establish new dispatching records or to spatch the most cases during a high-volume period.  This is also not a time for you to dive into dispatching to hone your skills.

Make sure you are taking care of yourself.  It is easy to get distracted and forget such things (eating, sleeping, etc.).  Remember, you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of a client.

Let’s not forget that our ultimate goal is to refuel the client.

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5 Comments

  1. van Holstein

    Assuming that times with high caseload might happen in the future, should we maybe agree on some additional rules/SOPs for these situations? For example, Dispatch could decide to change the channel topic to something like "High caseload! All rats who feel confident should self-spatch after FR+ if it is not a Code Red."

    Also, I don't seem to find any guidelines on how self-spatching should be handled. Should we write something down? It might be sensible to ask rats to add a keyword "self-spatching" in every call if they do this.

    Example:

    <ratxyz>     #22 5j

    <Dispatch> !gofr 22 ratxyz

    <ratxyz>     #22 fr+ self-spatching

    ... time passes...

    <Dispatch> ratxyz status?

    <ratxyz>     #22 bc+ client in EZ  self-spatching

    <ratxyz>     #22 fuel+

  2. Flossy3

    Having ratted on and off for just over 3 years now, I think this is a great idea and I would be comfortable self-spatching if it was required.  OK we don't have the magic buttons to automate instructions like the dispatchers but I think I could explain how to create a wing and enable beacon etc.  I've only recently really (in the last few days) come to appreciate the wonders of the Dispatch Board and started calling jumps based on what I see there rather than trying to scroll through the fast-moving text of the #fuelrats channel

  3. BT2217

    One thing to take note of for the future is the naturally developed even-odd system of dispatching with 2 dispatches. Another development has been the brief summary of the situation that is given to the next dispatcher as the first leaves. Just non-standard standards for next time. A way of filtering the board by evens and odds may also be a welcome addition for the future though now would not be the time to make such a change. I think that this time has really recontextualized dispatching at least for those taking part in it now. I don't think that I would be alone in saying that this "trial by fire" has been educational if nothing else. We will have some great dispatchers because of this and I think saving some of these lessons for future dispatchers would be a good idea. We could maybe make a collection of short stories and haikus or perhaps a series novellas (smile)

  4. Suxariki

    Would like if rats would call for oldest cases on the board. its just not fair if client that waiting for 30 minutes has no rat, but just joined client has

  5. Cozmik_Waffle

    Definitely appreciate all the amazing dispatchers at work during the Epicalypse. I feel like it might be a good idea to form a dual dispatch SOP of some sort, since that is what naturally formed under the high caseload, and it could help with consistently managing high caseloads. I also  feel like self-spatching could have some sort of SOP, as mentioned in Van Holstein's comment above