Paramedics in danger: Attacks on first responders double

ATTACKS on paramedics have more than doubled in two years as drug and alcohol fuelled patients take their anger out on first responders.

• Ambos under rising threat of attack
• Paramedic bashers try to avoid jail
• The places where paramedics won’t go

ATTACKS on paramedics have more than doubled in two years as drug- and alcohol-fuelled patients take their anger out on first responders.

VICTORIANS SHOW THEIR GRATITUDE ON THANK A PARAMEDIC DAY

A Sunday Herald Sun investigation can reveal paramedics are exposed to violence or aggression 13 times each day.

The ambulance union has received calls for security guards to accompany paramedics when they’re called out late at night or to known violence hot spots.

“It raises the issue of whether there needs to be security in the more dangerous areas of the state or more dangerous times,” said union secretary Steve McGhie.

Paramedic Shelly Brown, 35, was punched in the face by a drunk woman in the back of her ambulance last year.

She received only minor injuries, but was left mentally shaken.

Paramedic and mum Shelly Brown was punched in the face in the back of her ambulance by a drunk woman. Picture: Alex Coppel

“I was really distressed. It affected me quite badly,” she said. “It happened in my safe place ... my office. I had to take two weeks off and see a psychologist.”

The mother of two said paramedics are routinely “abused, spat at and pushed”.

“It’s unacceptable. Our whole job is to help people but we can’t do that if we are being threatened or abused.”

Mr McGhie said drugs and alcohol are fuelling the rise in violence and that emergency back-up is called for up to 40 per cent of jobs attended by paramedics.

Ambulance Employees Australia state secretary Steve McGhie.

The violent trend has sparked calls for a safety review, with some members suggesting security personnel accompany paramedics to dangerous jobs.

In 2015/16, paramedics attended more than 5000 emergency cases where they were exposed to violence or aggression — an average of 13 a day.

Paramedic assaults which led to an arrest or summons more than doubled since 2015-16, according to Crime Statistics Agency data.

Ambulance Victoria CEO Tony Walker acknowledged the rise in violence.

“We do not accept occupational violence as ‘part of the job’ and encourage paramedics to report every instance so that action can be taken and plans put in place to prevent recurrence,” he said.

Last year, a Herald Sun investigation unveiled almost 1200 ambulance no-go zones across the state.

Ambulance Victoria chief executive Tony Walker. Picture: AAP

The most black-listed addresses were in Dandenong (34), Frankston (29), Reservoir (27), Cranbourne (22) and Greater Geelong (22).

Mr McGhie said paramedics need to be better warned about the risks of each job they attend.

“Quite a lot of paramedics are sent to parties to treat someone who has collapsed at a party,” he added.

“There might be 100 — 200 people there topped up on grog or other stuff.

“We have had crews that were not aware there would be so many people and have had to alight themselves because people are thumping on the side of the ambulance ... and paramedics have had to lock themselves in.

“There should be a checklist of things in regards to the potential risk of aggression and violence such as substance abuse, alcohol abuse, if it’s a volatile situation or if there is a large gathering of numbers.”

A six-month body camera trial is underway and hopes to deter patient violence.

Virtual reality training which aims to teach paramedics how to deal with aggressive patients and bystanders is also being rolled out statewide.

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