This session will discuss the mind set of a domestic violence victim and why they continue to stay in their unhealthy environment despite repeated abuse. You will hear firsthand from a domestic violence victim to try and understand the answer to the question, why they stay. This class is designed to help telecommunicators handle these calls with empathy and understanding and give them firsthand knowledge to help.

Course Objectives:

1. Breaking the Barriers: Understanding Why Victims Stay

Domestic violence victims often face overwhelming psychological, financial, and emotional barriers that make leaving dangerous and complex. This course helps responders understand the fears of retaliation, financial dependency, and manipulation that keep victims trapped, equipping them with the tools to provide informed, compassionate support.

2. Recognizing the Signs: Identifying Abuse Beyond the Obvious

Domestic violence extends far beyond physical harm. This training covers emotional, financial, and coercive control tactics, teaching responders how to recognize hidden forms of abuse. By identifying these warning signs, professionals can intervene more effectively and connect victims with the right resources.

3. Listening Between the Lines: Analyzing 9-1-1 Calls for Hidden Cues

Emergency calls can hold critical, often subtle, clues of domestic violence. Through real-life 9-1-1 call analysis, participants will learn how to detect background noises, tone changes, and coded language that signal danger, ensuring a safer and more effective response for victims in crisis.

4. Understanding Lethality: The Danger of Strangulation and High-Risk Indicators

Strangulation is one of the strongest predictors of homicide in domestic violence cases. This course trains responders to recognize the physical signs and survivor behaviors that indicate a life-threatening situation, helping them assess and escalate cases appropriately to prevent further harm.

5. Caring for the Caregivers: Managing Stress and Secondary Trauma

Handling domestic violence calls can take an emotional toll on emergency responders. This course emphasizes the importance of self-care, stress management, and mental health resources, ensuring that those who serve and protect others also prioritize their own well-being.

Throughout this course, you have explored the complex dynamics of domestic violence—why victims stay, the cycles of abuse, and the critical role that emergency responders play in recognizing and addressing these situations. You have learned to identify the different types of abuse, from emotional and financial manipulation to physical violence and coercive control. You now understand the warning signs of strangulation, one of the most lethal indicators of escalating abuse, and how to assess risk factors in domestic violence calls effectively.

Most importantly, you leave with more than just knowledge—you leave with a sense of responsibility. Every call you take, every interaction you have, could be a turning point for a victim who feels trapped and unheard. Your ability to listen, to recognize subtle cues, and to approach these calls with empathy and awareness can save lives. You are more than a dispatcher or first responder; you are an advocate, a lifeline, and sometimes the only voice of hope for someone in crisis.

Domestic violence is not just a personal issue—it’s a public safety issue. And as professionals in emergency response, your work has the power to break cycles, protect the vulnerable, and create lasting change. Carry this knowledge forward with purpose. Continue to sharpen your skills, trust your instincts, and never underestimate the impact you have. Because every call matters. Every victim matters. And because of you, someone may find the strength to leave, to survive, and to reclaim their life.

Remember their name. Share their story. Be the difference.

This course is taught by domestic abuse survivor Tanya Lee, and Tina DeCola with Las Vegas Fire and Rescue. (8 hours)