Paramedics (Negligence UK)Everyone knows that paramedics do a tremendous job in helping to save lives in towns and cities across the UK.
Often they are required to carry out their duties without due consideration for their own safety as they hurry to the scenes of many serious incidents.
Sadly though there are more and more instances of brutal attacks carried out on emergency workers such as the paramedics, whilst they try to save lives.
This dangerous occupation has been made harder with reports of paramedics being punched or shot at with air rifles, as well as fireworks, bricks and bottles being thrown at them and their equipment.
An incident in July this year was a prime example of the aggravation endured as a youth attacked a paramedic in Plymouth.
The teenager had collapsed in the street after drinking excessively so an ambulance was called for.
The boy was lifted in to the ambulance only for him to leap out again and start throwing punches at the paramedic, who had been treating him.
According to Det Insp Mike Cooper of north sector CID, the youth threw several "windmill" punches at the paramedic, connecting a number of times.
The lad ran off leaving the police to question whether he was really ill or just making it up as the Det Inp added: "the emergency services could have been distracted from a far more serious and genuine incident due to this matter."
It's a problem for the National Health Service (NHS) as they clearly don't want to lose skilled workers when they are being subjected to violent situations like these.
Paramedics can earn between £20,000 and £26,000 per annum, although for team leaders this can rise to £31,000, but some may question whether the salary is worth the troubled circumstances they find themselves subjected to.
A saving grace for the NHS at the moment may be the rising unemployment in the country, which will make any employees think twice about a career change for now.
Not only that, but with more stories reaching local newspapers and the national press of obstructive and violent behaviour towards paramedics, it may put off potential new recruits to the service.
However, many paramedics love their job in spite of the dangers encountered from time to time, and feel there is nothing more satisfying than saving someone's life.
One London paramedic said: "You never forget the first time you successfully resuscitate someone. One minute you are faced with a dead body the next with someone who is trying to sit up."
Working in teams helps to build good bonds with their colleagues too, especially when faced with difficult situations.
The protection of paramedics has come up for debate around Britain with some calling for body armour to be issued.
Stab vests have been widely used in London since the start of the decade, and now more units across the country use them when faced with potentially dangerous incidents.
However, this is not the case everywhere and the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel (APAP) has been campaigning for 12 years for protective equipment, such as stab vests to be part of standard equipment.
Until that happens paramedics will continue to risk being injured in the line of duty, so Britain can feel grateful for the work of these brave unsung heros.
OTHER RELATED ARTICLES:
|
