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Northern Ellis Emergency Dispatch (NEED), which operates out of the Midlothian Police Department facility, last week launched a new Emergency Medical Dispatch system for the citizens of Midlothian. Pictured in the photo is NEED manager Christine Thompson (standing), working with emergency dispatcher Raquel Deranjic to field a call on launch day.

Midlothian’s 9-1-1 operators recently began using medical dispatch protocols designed to provide immediate response to callers’ needs and at the same time dispatch emergency personnel without delay.

While previous procedures limited dispatchers to obtaining the location where help was needed and a brief description of the emergency, new protocols allow them to provide instructions for treating the emergency until help arrives…