The International Academies of Emergency Dispatch (IAED) is the world’s foremost standard-setting and certification organization for emergency communication centers with over 66,000 members in 46 countries. More than 3,000 communication centers use IAED’s protocols and training—translated into 25 languages/dialects—for medical, fire, and police dispatching. Of those, more than 250 have become Accredited Centers of Excellence (ACE). Since it’s inception, the IAED has had two roles: a membership-driven association for the professional recognition of dispatchers, and, as an Academy that develops and maintains emergency dispatch protocols and curriculum for member use in response to emergency service calls. Comprising the International Academy of Emergency Medical Dispatch (IAEMD), the International Academy of Emergency Fire Dispatch (IAEFD), and the International Academy of Emergency Police Dispatch (IAEPD), the IAED’s emphasis on research and quality separates it from other public safety organizations. The IAED provides state-of-the-art protocols in each discipline that helps each communication center to allocate the most appropriate resources on a prioritized basis. The IAED’s medical, fire, police protocols are the global gold standard for scripted, research-backed protocol-based emergency calltaking and dispatch. The IAED is a strong and authoritative voice for emergency dispatch programs internationally and partners with other influential emergency response groups, such as the National Emergency Number Association (NENA), the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP), the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), and the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, among others, to help improve and professionalize emergency dispatch worldwide.
