Ten Medical Conditions That Make it Difficult to be an Emergency Calltaker.

1. Narcolepsy. People usually count on us to be awake throughout the duration of a call.
2. Tourettes. Them swearing at us is okay; us swearing at them is not.
3. Dyslexia. It's a fine line between quick typing getting mixed up, and a medical condition.
4. Restless Leg. It is hard enough to sit in a chair for twelve hours without your limbs contriving to go somewhere without you.
5. Depression. If you don't come with it, you may leave with it. This is not the cheery world you think it is.
6. Paranoia. See five.
7. Speaking in Tongues. This may often prove to be useful. Certainly I found it easier to decode the strange accents and mumblings on my recent trip than my buddy did.
8. Cataplexy. The myriad emotions experienced with every call would have call takers collapsing all over the control room floor.
9. Alien Hand Syndrome. Again, this may prove to be useful. Your hand, no longer in your control, could move over to the release button and disconnect the call accidently. Could management blame you? Speak to the hand.
10. Spasmodic Dysphonia. Callers, I feel, would not appreciate that your best vocal performance comes with singing, laughing or speaking in a high screech.