Paramedics loading a patient into the back of an ambulance.
Photo credit: Mat Napo/Unsplash
West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) has launched a new campaign to raise awareness for attacks against staff. The campaign launched on 7th February sees children of NHS staff wearing their parents’ uniforms to raise awareness on the way staff are treated.
Last year WMAS reported 1,390 verbal and physical attacks against staff including call handlers.
Paramedic Deena Evans has worked for WMAS for eight years. In July 2020, she was brutally stabbed in the chest while on duty. Ms Evans had been working alongside fellow paramedic, Mick Hipgrave, who was stabbed in his back by A knife-wielding patient after pushing Ms Evans away to safety.
Ms Evans said: “The wider public aren’t aware of how many risks we face trying to save lives.
“Though I made a full recovery after the stabbing, I still suffer terrible flashbacks of the attack.
“I speak to other paramedics every day who’ve been physically or verbally attacked who have become accustomed to this treatment.”
In addition to the current campaign, Ms Evans feels there needs to be more awareness of the lasting mental impacts the attacks have on paramedics.
In a West Midlands Ambulance Service publication, Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh said: “It is so important that everyone remembers that these staff are real people, with real lives, just the same as you and me – there is a life behind their uniform, and they deserve our respect.”
Alongside raising awareness, West Midlands Ambulance Service has introduced body worn cameras for all paramedics. Accompanying this, there has been a trial for stab vests.
The deployment of stab vests is a project that Ms Evans is passionate about.
Ms Evans said: “The stab vests don’t make you invincible of course but they do make me safer.
“I hope to continue wearing mine in the future if the trial is successful.”
To find out more about the campaign and the work of The Ambulance Staff Charity supporting WMAS, visit www.wmas.nhs.uk and www.theasc.org.uk/
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