When your organization needs to limit dispatch alerts to certain personnel—such as those on duty—or restrict notifications for junior or auxiliary members to prevent alert fatigue or for education times, the most effective approach is a combination of user-managed settings and targeted communication tools.
1. Member-Managed Notification Controls
All members logged into the app will receive all dispatches/incidents to the incident list. The most reliable way to ensure dispatches do not come to the incident list with an app push notification and alert ringtone is through individual user settings.
Managing Off-Duty Status: When members go off-duty, they can slide Notifications to OFF within the app settings or enable their device’s Do Not Disturb mode.
Benefits: This keeps the member's phone quiet during their off-hours while still allowing them to see the call in the incident list if they choose to check the app manually.
2. Using Targeted Communication Tools
To avoid sending notifications to the entire group or all members for non-emergency updates, utilize features designed for specific targeting.
Message and Chat: For non-emergency notes or specific updates, use these features rather than a global dispatch alert.
Active Alerting: These tools will specifically alert the members who are active and ready to receive notifications, ensuring that only the relevant personnel are notified for that specific task or update.
3. Reducing Alert Fatigue & Managing Training
By implementing these strategies, you ensure that:
Junior and Auxiliary Members are not overwhelmed by calls they are not required to attend.
Education and Training Times are respected, allowing members to silence alerts during classes or drills.
Off-Duty Personnel can rest without interruption.
Active Responders remain sharp and attentive to the alerts that truly matter to their current role.