Emergency Response Centre volunteer
Help in deciding
As a volunteer at the Emergency Response Centre, you can break free from your daily routine and support people when they need quick and clear information and instructions from the state the most. Callers to the State Helpline 1247 seek reliable, verified information and reassurance. As a volunteer, you won't just be a bystander – you'll help find solutions to callers' questions and concerns. You will be called upon to assist when the number of calls to the State Helpline increases due to crises or unexpected events and it is important to keep the emergency number 112 free for urgent assistance.
You can contribute to the regional centres of the Emergency Response Centre, which are located in Tallinn, Pärnu, Tartu and Jõhvi. By volunteering, you will gain valuable experience, connections and practical skills, as well as the opportunity to contribute to a safer Estonia.
As an Emergency Response Centre volunteer, you will play a vital role in providing assistance and supporting callers during unexpected events or national crises. You will gain first-hand experience of events affecting society and be able to contribute to their resolution. This experience will help you to distinguish between what is and isn't important, improve your communication skills, and provide you with practical knowledge and experience that you can use in everyday life.
Important to know concerning this step
Volunteers answer calls to the State Helpline 1247 and provide callers with information and instructions based on predefined guidelines. The Emergency Response Centre has involved volunteers during both the coronavirus pandemic and the security crisis to ensure that people receive reliable information and correct instructions on how to behave.
In addition to answering calls to 1247, volunteers have contributed to making calls from 1247 when it is necessary to quickly share information with a specific group of people. We have also involved volunteers in answering calls as part of various exercises and tests.
In the event of a large-scale incident or crisis with many victims, the authority handling the incident may grant permission to make inquiries about the victims. In such cases, people can call the State Helpline at 1247 to find out if their loved one is in the hospital if they are unable to contact them themselves and know that their loved one was in close proximity to the scene of the incident.
The Emergency Response Centre usually calls on volunteers a few hours or days before an expected increase in call volume. When needed, volunteers are notified by text message and email. If you are ready to help, the time and location will be agreed upon via e-mail and a reminder will be sent. On site, you will receive all the necessary information about the situation, work tools, and procedures.
- Volunteers are involved in unexpected events or crisis situations, which makes this role well suited to those who have busy everyday lives but want to contribute in unexpected situations.
- As a volunteer, you represent your country, which requires polite, calm, and respectful communication in all situations.
- Knowledge of Russian and English is an advantage, but if you do not speak these languages, the call can be forwarded to another volunteer.
- You will have access to information intended for internal use only, which must not be disclosed to third parties.
You can read more about the activities of the State Helpline 1247 on the Emergency Response Centre's website. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the Emergency Response Centre at [email protected].
References
Contacts
If you have any questions, contact the Emergency Response Centre.