When a dispatcher declares "Emergency traffic," what should units do?

• A. Use fewer words per transmission to save airtime.
• B. Stop non-essential transmissions and respond to the emergency with priority.
• C. Continue with normal traffic as long as you are not involved.
• D. Switch to a dedicated emergency channel.

Answer: (C)

Emergency traffic signals that the radio channel is being cleared for urgent incident communications. In this situation, units not directly involved should stop non-essential transmissions and listen, while units involved respond with priority and provide the needed status and actions as directed. This keeps the air clear for critical messages, prevents congestion, and ensures responders can communicate efficiently during the emergency. Using fewer words is good in routine chatter, but it doesn’t guarantee the channel will be clear when urgent messages are needed. Continuing normal traffic would clog the channel, and switching to a dedicated emergency channel should only occur if directed or if agency policy requires it.