A new awareness campaign is underway in Chatham-Kent, aiming to shed some light on the abuse that paramedics sometimes face while they're responding to calls.
The Zero Tolerance campaign by Chatham-Kent EMS follows a similar initiative in Peterborough County and a statement from the Paramedics Chief of Canada drawing attention to physical and verbal attacks on paramedics and support staff.
Donald MacLellan, general manager of Chatham-Kent EMS, said there have also been a couple of incidents locally over the past few months that prompted them to take a closer look at the issue.
"It is unfortunate that there are some situations that have caused some verbal and physical abuse to paramedics while they are performing their duty of pre-hospital care," said MacLellan. "There's really no specific root cause... the easy go-to that some people could think of would be any incidents that involve drug or alcohol intoxication, but this type of activity can really occur at any type of call."
According to a Paramedic Chiefs of Canada study, 75 per cent of Canadian paramedics reported experiencing violence, with 74 per cent reporting multiple forms of violence including verbal and physical assault, as well as sexual assault and harassment.
"Every day, around the clock and in all types of weather, our paramedics are answering calls to deliver quality care to those who need it," said MacLellan. "While the vast majority of people appreciate the invaluable and often life-saving care we provide, it's disappointing that physical and mental abuse has happened to paramedics simply doing their jobs."
Locally, the campaign includes "Zero Tolerance" posters inside of ambulances and additional support for paramedics who have been subject to violence and abuse during a call.
MacLellan said they will also be working with law enforcement to pursue criminal charges when necessary.
