dispatch center
Loading your saved state.
dispatch center
A central facility that coordinates and directs operations by emergency medical services, the fire department, police, or also in local public transportation. Emergency calls come in here, and from here the response teams are directed.
Nach dem Notruf hat die Leitstelle sofort einen Rettungswagen losgeschickt.
After the emergency call, the dispatch center immediately sent out an ambulance.
The word is made up of 'leiten' (to lead, to direct) and 'Stelle' (place, facility). So a Leitstelle is literally a place from which something is directed.
Die Leitstelle der Verkehrsbetriebe koordiniert alle Busse und Bahnen.
The transit company's dispatch center coordinates all buses and trains.
In the context of emergencies, Leitstelle is often used with the verbs 'alarmieren' (to alert), 'informieren' (to inform), or 'anrufen' (to call).
Zeugen alarmierten sofort die Leitstelle der Feuerwehr.
Witnesses immediately alerted the fire department's dispatch center.
It is often specified which Leitstelle is meant. Common combinations are 'die Leitstelle der Polizei' (the police dispatch center), 'die Leitstelle der Feuerwehr' (the fire department dispatch center), or 'die Rettungsleitstelle' (the rescue dispatch center).
Alle Notrufe gehen bei der integrierten Leitstelle für Feuerwehr und Rettungsdienst ein.
All emergency calls come in at the integrated dispatch center for the fire department and emergency medical services.
headquarters
'das Hauptquartier' and 'die Leitstelle' can both be a central place from which something is controlled. The difference lies in the type of control. A 'Hauptquartier' is the central administrative and management office of an entire organization. A 'Leitstelle' coordinates specific operations or processes, for example for the fire department, emergency medical services, police, or traffic. The words can be confused because both have to do with organization and control. For the long-term management of an organization, 'Hauptquartier' fits. For the fast coordination of operations, 'Leitstelle' fits.
Nach dem Notruf schickt die Leitstelle sofort einen Krankenwagen los.
After the emergency call, the dispatch center immediately sends out an ambulance.
Das Hauptquartier entscheidet über die neuen Ziele der Organisation.
The headquarters decides on the organization's new goals.