14th July 2010
UNION chiefs say paramedics should wear stab vests
UNION chiefs say paramedics should wear stab vests after figures revealed a rise in violence against crews in a number of regions.
Physical assaults against East Midlands Ambulance Service staff, including North Lincolnshire personnel, surged by 21 per cent last year, and we believe stab vests could reduce the risk of workplace violence related injuries.
Matt Whittcombe, acting General Secretary of The Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel (APAP), said crews should be deployed with stab vests.
He expressed his concerns: "We're asking for the provision of stab vests. I'm worried the true figure for abuse is much higher than shown. Staff see it as so much hassle to fill out the forms needed to log verbal abuse - to take a vehicle off the road for the amount of paperwork is something they're against."
Robert Kaiser, CEO of PPSS points out: "Dealing with potentially hostile members of the public, who are under the influence of class A drugs or alcohol, means dealing with people who can overreact to anything you do or say."
Mr Kaiser explains that PPSS is a specialised manufacturer of stab vests and that his company is on the receiving end of a number of incoming enquiries from Ambulance Professionals who have not been issue with stab vests yet.
"Sometimes we get a call from an Ambulance Professional who feels that his concerns and fears are getting ignored. Is it a financial issue? Do we live in a state where we can put a value on human life?"
"Personal safety training, conflict management training and CCTV are some of the best ways of improving the personal safety of these professionals, who help and care and save lives. But sometimes even the best of training is just not good enough, and this is where stab vests become so useful."
"We are happy to provide all Ambulance Trusts with a free consultancy service. We are here to help others to come home safely after a day at work" says Robert Kaiser.
For further information please contact PPSS, by visiting their website www.ppss-group.com, email info@ppss-group.com or call +(0)845 5193 953