West Australian ambulance officers will trial body-worn cameras and slash-proof clothes in a bid to maintain paramedics protected from these they’re making an attempt to assist.
It follows projections St John Ambulance will report 270 violent incidents in opposition to ambulance crews this monetary yr – a determine on par with earlier years, displaying the issue isn’t getting any higher.
St John Group chief government Kevin Brown mentioned frontline personnel have been at their wit’s finish with the behaviour of members of the general public who encountered emergency responders.
“Everyone should expect to go home to their partner, friends and family with the same level of mental and physical health with which they came to work,” Mr Brown mentioned.
“St John has already rolled out highly successful de-escalation training to personnel to ensure our people have the skills to keep themselves safe, but more can be done.”
Eastern states St John workers are already present process bodycam trials.
“Our goal is not just to reduce injury but to greater support team members,” Mr Brown mentioned.
“This means St John will actively pursue charges against anyone who acts in a violent or aggressive manner to people working on the front line of emergency ambulance response.”
For instance, a person has been charged after he allegedly smashed the windscreen of an ambulance, taking the car off the street.
St John figures additionally present situations the place ambulance officers request WA Police help previous to attending a triple-0 emergency are up 14 per cent on 2018.
“This isn’t a matter of us seeing a big increase in violence and aggression incidents but instead a recognition that ambulance teams should not have to put up with it,” Mr Brown mentioned.
United Workers Union nationwide ambulance co-ordinator Fiona Scanlon on Thursday informed 6PR radio that the speed of paramedics being attacked was “horrific”.
“The fact that these things even need to be considered is just a testament to the increase in the frequency of these types of events,” Ms Scanlon mentioned.
“A large proportion of those stats would be people with mental health problems or some kind of substance that makes them not in control of their actions; that’s no excuse for our members, who deserve to come home safe.
“I don’t know what the answer is … it’s a meaner and more aggressive society out there in general.”
It’s understood a small variety of officers will trial the cameras and slash-proof clothes earlier than a wider trial is rolled out.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
