Ambulance crews across Shropshire and the West Midlands are to trial the use of stab-proof vests.
The move was agreed yesterday by service bosses and follows a risk assessment and review of health and safety regulations.
A report to the West Midlands Ambulance Service Trust board showed there were 121 physical assaults on staff between April 2007 and last month, of which four involved the use of a weapon.
The weapons used were a false leg, rucksack, kettle and TV remote.
But the report also revealed the first details of a frightening incident faced by a crew in Birmingham last year.
It was classed as a “non-physical assault” involving a weapon.
The crew was sent to a block of flats where a female had been assaulted.When the crew went into the lift, a hooded youth approached the doors and produced what was believed to be a firearm and demanded drugs.
The crew managed to shut the lift doors and eventually gained entrance to the patient’s flat. The firearm had been pointed at their heads and not at their torsos.
Diane Lee, director of corporate services, said a survey of operational staff had shown 475 in favour of wearing stab vests and 201 against. Most of those who had responded to the exercise were based in Birmingham and the Black Country.
Derek Laird, locality director for Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire, said the majority of staff in the areas didn’t feel there was a need for protective clothing.
Peter Murtagh, locality manager for Staffordshire, said there wasn’t a consistent view across the West Midlands region on whether stab vests should be worn. The trust’s chief executive, Anthony Marsh, said it was important that staff felt supported and valued, and suggested that a two-month trial of vests of the “latest technology” be organised.
The vests will be used by selected staff, in both the shire counties and inner city areas.
It is not known when the trial will begin but the board has called for a report in six months’ time.
The vests have to be made to individual specifications and the cost of eventually equipping all crews with them could be about £840,000.
l More than 370 patients taken by ambulance to Telford’s Princess Royal Hospital last month had their handover delayed by between 30 and 60 minutes, new figures have revealed.
Nineteen had to wait between one and two hours, and three more than two hours.
At the Royal Shrewsbury, 191 patients faced a handover wait of 30 to 60 minutes, with 10 waiting between one and two hours, and three longer than two hours, show the figures presented to the trust board.
Ambulances are expected to complete a hospital “turnaround” in about 15 minutes but face delays when A&E departments are running at full capacity.
Loading ...
9 Comments
Where were the majority of the 121 incidents that relate to the West Midlands Ambulance Service Trust? In Shropshire? Or in the West Midlands conurbation?
What has the world come to???
This never used to happen, but in todays yob culture of happy slapping and weapon carrying it is no wonder.
This needs to stop and stop NOW.
Stab vests only protect you from being stabbed in the torso, they do not stop you being punched in the face etc etc.The key to survival is spacial awareness and being able to identify the warning signs prior to attack.Get those in the front line trained in that and you are 90% of the way there.Spending £100’s on a vest would be better spent teaching them some self defence techniques.
I have been a Paramedic in Birmingham for over 15 years, and have on many occasions had to deal with people and weapons. I think that any of the Paramedics that in the rural areas voted NO because they don’t need them and possible a selfish vote because they don’t think about there colleges that work in the larger city areas, or possibly because they were swayed by the MUST BE WORN at all times part in the vote form after all lets face it the attack rate in sleepy hollow village is slim. I put it to any one to come and work in Birmingham city as a Paramedic and see why the vests are needed.
As for the comments by CB: Stab vests only protect you from being stabbed in the torso, they do not stop you being punched in the face once we get the stab vests we will look at a full face helmet another day. And next time Im on my own in the car working in Aston and trying to deal with someone that’s been stabbed and lying in the street, after being told the nearest ambulance is going to take 15 minutes and the police have no one to send because there dealing with another stabbing 3 miles away, Ill be sure to consider your helpful comments “The key to survival is special awareness and being able to identify the warning signs prior to attack”.
It’s all very easy to deride stab vests in Shropshire, until you’ve been looking at the sharp end of a knife. The only reason that West Midlands Ambulance Service is trialling stab vests is to put off the cost of paying for them. The recent vote for stab vests was worded in such a way that Employees were told, “if you have the vest you will have to wear it all the time.” A comment designed to produce a NO vote. I work for Shropshire Ambulance Service, and have been in situations where I would have worn a stab vest if issued. As far as the comment about spatial awareness and self defence, GET REAL! You’ve obviously never worked in the environments that I have.
In reply to ’shropshirelad’, au contraire! I had 32 years as a front line police officer with and without safety vests, I’ve faced more knives than you’ve got in your best cutlery drawer.For your next trick I presume you’ll show me how to suck eggs.
To all the people that USED to be front LINE , THINGS HAVE CHANGED… A LOT….No, stab vests don’t stop you getting punched in the face. They also won’t protect you against cannon fire, flame throwers, mines, hand grenades, intercontinental ballistic missiles, hydrogen bombs, dinosaurs, volcanic eruption, phasers or aliens experimenting on you. What they will do is provide some protection for the vital organs and blood vessels of the torso, just in case the next job you go to is a nutter or druggie with a sharp object which he feels will help him get his point (pardon the pun) across. Of course an anatomically knowledgeable looney with a good aim could still inflict life threatening injuries, but just because they ‘fail’ to provide protection in all situations is hardly a reason not to have them. There will be no expectation that you will enter a scene with any less care than now
dave s, what a sad case you are. Come and work a shift with me in Telford and maybe your ‘opinions’ may change. Is there any wonder none of us wanted to merge with you if that’s the kind of attitude you guys have. Shame. Call me at donnington station when you want to come and do a shift. Kind regards.
Dear Shrop, Sad case because I require and see a fundamental need for staff protection, Humm, any ways I’ll have to decline your offer to work in Telford, you see don’t take everything on face value I used to work at Donnington Station and have worked in Telford. The hub of islands the most technical case I ever had was that some drunk soldier on his way back to Parsons Bks who managed to fall into the road and was struck by a car he received bumps and bruises and a slight concussion. It was one of the reasons I left and went to West Mids because it was dull and boring and looking at your mobile stats it seem nothing has changed. Please don’t confuse your perception with my educated observations.