What should you do if there is a duplicate call?

In the context of handling emergency calls, validating that the address is identical when encountering a duplicate call is an important step. This ensures that resources are being allocated appropriately and that the call is indeed referring to the same incident. Duplication can often occur due to multiple individuals calling in about the same situation; thus, confirming that the addresses match corroborates that it is a legitimate duplicate and not a separate incident.

By checking and validating the identical address, dispatchers can avoid confusion, retain accurate records, and ensure that responders aren't mistakenly sent to the same location multiple times for a single event. This approach promotes efficient resource management and helps maintain an organized dispatch process.

Other approaches, such as ignoring the duplicate or disconnecting the call, could result in missed or crucial information about an ongoing situation. Merging both calls into one record without proper validation could complicate response efforts and diminish situational awareness, making it more challenging for responders to understand the scale or nature of the incident. Thus, validating the duplicate call is the most effective and responsible action to take in managing emergency dispatch communications.