Ambulance Victoria is calling on the community to support paramedics to continue doing their lifesaving work this festive season.
As the holiday period approaches, many Victorians will be out celebrating, but for paramedics and first responders it’s one of the busiest and toughest times.
For paramedics to provide treatment, they need a safe environment to work in that is free from aggression or abuse.
What people can do to help paramedics:
- Be respectful towards everyone involved in an incident.
- Put safety first – if there is violence or aggression present at a scene, stay well back and don’t do anything to aggravate or worsen the situation.
- Advise the triple zero call-taker if violence or aggression is present. They can arrange for police to attend.
- Follow paramedics’ instructions. If it is safe to do so, ask agitated family or friends to clear the area for a moment.
- Offer assistance by offering paramedics help.
An assault or attempted assault is reported by paramedics every 15 hours.
Across the state paramedics are experiencing a rise in violence and abuse – injuring an emergency worker in Victoria is a category one offence and carries a mandatory minimum six-month jail sentence.
Incidents of occupational violence increased by 14 per cent in 2022-2023, with 580 cases reported last financial year. The trend is continuing, with 279 incidents reported by paramedics from July to November.
Emergency situations can be stressful but becoming angry or aggressive will not help the patients paramedics are trying to assist.
Ambulance Victoria clinical operations executive director Anthony Carlyon said Ambulance Victoria had zero tolerance for threatening behaviour, abuse and assaults, and paramedics would leave a scene if they felt unsafe.
“Our people’s safety comes first, and we do not accept occupational violence as ‘part of the job’,” he said.
“For our paramedics to provide treatment to you or your loved one, they need a safe environment to work in.
“We recognise emergency situations can be stressful but becoming angry or aggressive will not help you or the patient paramedics are trying to assist.
“We ask all Victorians to help our paramedics care for the community by being respectful towards them and, if you are involved in an emergency incident, doing your bit to assist.”
Paramedic James, who was recently threatened by a bystander while responding to a patient in cardiac arrest, highlighted how aggressive behaviour towards paramedics can also put other people’s lives at risk.
“This person was swearing at us and becoming increasingly threatening, standing over us with a clenched fist and even trying to push us out of the way to commence ineffective CPR themselves,” he said.
“Along with being unacceptable behaviour, it also impedes our ability to provide the critical care that patients require.”
The prevention of occupational violence is a priority area within Ambulance Victoria with staff encouraged to report every instance.
Paramedics are trained in a variety of strategies to assess, manage and, if needed, de-escalate violent or aggressive scenes.