LEETON paramedics are being knocked unconscious, punched and sexually assaulted while on the job.
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So it came as no surprise to chief Leeton paramedic Chris Bailey this week when it was announced paramedics were now working in the “most dangerous profession” in Australia.
Research conducted by Central Queensland University Professor Brian Maguire, who himself is a former ambulance officer, looked at 14 years of records from 2001 to 2014 and found injuries in the profession increased by over 700 per cent during that period.
“It’s absolutely dreadful what paramedics are having to go through on the job,” Mr Bailey said.
“I myself have been knocked unconscious after four blokes broke into the plant room at the (Leeton) station.
“Every paramedic we have here in Leeton has been assaulted or injured in some way while on the job. Two have even been sexually assaulted. It’s not good.”
The report found the injury rate among paramedics was twice that of police officers.
People under the influence of alcohol and drugs are the ones wreaking havoc and paramedics have seemingly no way to protect themselves in the way police officers do.
While the men and women in blue carry items such as capsicum spray, tasers and guns, paramedics don’t have that option.
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There’s also the issue of them needing to assess and treat a person up close and personal.
“To assess someone, you do need to get close to them and see what’s going on,” Mr Bailey said.
“I think people would be shocked to hear just what paramedics are having to go through on the job. There’s just no respect of the position anymore.
“Back in the day when I worked in Sydney we would be called to Kings Cross regularly. I can’t remember who it was – whether it was the Comancheros or Hells Angels, but they used to sit out on the street and they would protect us. They might have been doing other ‘dodgy’ things in that area, but they would protect the ambulance officers.”
Paramedics are taught ways to avoid harmful situations where possible, but Mr Bailey said it wasn’t always possible.
He was unsure what would fix the issue, but said it was worsening. “I don’t think there’s any one way that would fix it,” Mr Bailey said.
Mr Bailey said all emergency services workers were in the firing line, including police officers, volunteer workers, firefighters and medical staff.