Superior North EMS is working closely with City Police to gauge the type of calls they are going to. Deputy Chief Andrew Dillon explains they were already communicating with police but they are now getting as much call information as possible prior to paramedics arrival. They are also now awaiting confirmation from the police that the scene is safe before entering.
The new steps are being taken after there was a steady increase in calls where paramedics found themselves exposed to both verbal and physical assaults. Officials note the most common instance involves paramedics getting spit on but I other instances they’ve been kicked, punched and hit.
Paramedics have also undergone new training to make themselves more street smart. The new program teaches escape and evade tactics and how to assess whether a scene is safe to enter alone without police.
Officials will also be able to use a new split-screen hood on a patient if they’ve spat at them or have threatened them. The screen is see-through and will allow paramedics to assess the patient but without getting spit on.
From September 2016 to October 2019, there were 52 incidents where paramedics were attacked or abused. 17 of those incidents involved spitting.
