PROTECTION: Crews are already wearing stab-proof vests in Essex (picture courtesy of Essex Ambulance Services NHS Trust)
AMBULANCE crews will wear stab-proof vests as part of a trial to decide whether to introduce them permanently in Worcestershire.
The chain-mail vests would protect crews against knives, handguns, hypodermic needles and stiletto heels if health chiefs decide to bring them in.
The two-month trial was announced by Anthony Marsh, chief executive of the West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust, at a board meeting with a report on the trial expected within six months.
Vests with a slash proof collar have already been introduced by Essex Ambulance Service NHS Trust and in parts of London. Each piece of body armour has to be tailor-made for the wearer and weighs about 3.7kg (8.1lbs).
Mr Marsh was the chief executive of the Essex Ambulance Service NHS Trust when he announced "with a heavy heart" that stab proof vests would be introduced there in May, 2005.
He said: "The overwhelming majority of staff in the West Midlands don't want them. They're huge, great big things you can't do anything in."
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Mr Marsh also said that staff were potentially at risk at any time, not just a Friday or Saturday night, and the vests would have to be worn "at all times". Staff were asked whether or not they would like the vests and 475 said "yes" and 201 "no" with three spoiled ballots. However, only a quarter of the workforce responded and those who wanted the vests tended to be in urban areas such as Birmingham not rural areas such as Worcestershire.
If the trust decides to have the vests they would cost about £840,000 and about £270 a year to keep the kit in good working order.
Board members had mixed feelings about the vests and said conflict management strategies were just as important in diffusing potentially violent situations.
Tony Yeaman, a non-executive director, said if the vest was introduced it would need to be worn at all times but was concerned staff could suffer heat exhaustion in summer.
Across Worcestershire and Herefordshire there was one assault on ambulance staff with a weapon (a kettle) and 14 physical assaults without weapons between April 1 last year and February 29 this.
Posted by: chippie, Worcester on 11:57am Fri 28 Mar 08
What a sad state of affairs - can't really believe this is happening when paramedics save so many lives - one day these criminals may need help from the NHS
What a sad state of affairs - can't really believe this is happening when paramedics save so many lives - one day these criminals may need help from the NHS
Posted by: Outraged, Pergatory on 12:57pm Fri 28 Mar 08
Stab-proof vests won't stop anyone being stabbed, shot, punctured with needles in the Arms, Legs or Head ...
This money would be far, far better spent teaching the same sort of Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu based techniques that are taught to many Psychiatric nurses so that, instead of curling up into a ball and relying on your chain-mail vest, you can quickly and easily (especially with the aid of a trained colleague or two) defend against and restrain even the most out-of-control attacker where "conflict management" training would have absolutely no effect.
Also, if Jiu-Jitsu based self-defence were on the school curriculum, in a generation or two we would see greatly reduced bullying in schools, kids better able to fend off kidnap & sexual assault attempts along with increased discipline as bullies/attackers discovered that their threats/attempts at violence would be nullified. Bullies etc' would no longer be able to impose their will through fear of physical violence and so they would have to learn to negotiate & compromise instead.
But no-one's listening, the limp-wristed politicians & councillors know best ... won't be long now till we see Paramedics, Firefighters etc' kitted out with the same Riot-Gear as the police (who incidentally should also ALL be taught effective self-defense techniques rather than provided with more tools of violence RE: periodic calls to arm ALL Bobbies with Guns).
Stab-proof vests won't stop anyone being stabbed, shot, punctured with needles in the Arms, Legs or Head ...
This money would be far, far better spent teaching the same sort of Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu based techniques that are taught to many Psychiatric nurses so that, instead of curling up into a ball and relying on your chain-mail vest, you can quickly and easily (especially with the aid of a trained colleague or two) defend against and restrain even the most out-of-control attacker where "conflict management" training would have absolutely no effect.
Also, if Jiu-Jitsu based self-defence were on the school curriculum, in a generation or two we would see greatly reduced bullying in schools, kids better able to fend off kidnap & sexual assault attempts along with increased discipline as bullies/attackers discovered that their threats/attempts at violence would be nullified. Bullies etc' would no longer be able to impose their will through fear of physical violence and so they would have to learn to negotiate & compromise instead.
But no-one's listening, the limp-wristed politicians & councillors know best ... won't be long now till we see Paramedics, Firefighters etc' kitted out with the same Riot-Gear as the police (who incidentally should also ALL be taught effective self-defense techniques rather than provided with more tools of violence RE: periodic calls to arm ALL Bobbies with Guns).
Posted by: varien, worcester on 6:08pm Fri 28 Mar 08
There should be an automatic mandatory prison sentence of at least 10 years for any individual who attacks a member of the ambulance service or fire brigade etc. during a call out.
There should be an automatic mandatory prison sentence of at least 10 years for any individual who attacks a member of the ambulance service or fire brigade etc. during a call out.
Posted by: iceman77, Lower Broadheath on 9:07pm Sat 29 Mar 08
isn't this indicative of the the modern state of this country. the softly softly approach does not work. parents should be allowed, within reason, to chastise their children. schools should be able to punish without fear or retribution (cctv's in the class room would make it safer for the pupils and the teachers). homeowners defending their property should have the law on their side. if the courts handed out proper sentences to criminals and incarcerated them in proper prisons rather than three star hotels, then and only then will the scum who attack our emergency services and our doctors and nurses in the hospitals possible think twice about their actions.
it is about time that this country was taken back out of the hands of the common criminals who feel able to act without feer of legal retribution, and be returned to the law abiding citizens who at present are in fear of the actions taken against them as victims. we all know at heart that the criminals in this country are are better off than the victims.
it won't be long until fire and paramedics won't turn up to save you or your children without a police escort and we all know how few police officers that there are on our streets.
isn't this indicative of the the modern state of this country. the softly softly approach does not work. parents should be allowed, within reason, to chastise their children. schools should be able to punish without fear or retribution (cctv's in the class room would make it safer for the pupils and the teachers). homeowners defending their property should have the law on their side. if the courts handed out proper sentences to criminals and incarcerated them in proper prisons rather than three star hotels, then and only then will the scum who attack our emergency services and our doctors and nurses in the hospitals possible think twice about their actions.
it is about time that this country was taken back out of the hands of the common criminals who feel able to act without feer of legal retribution, and be returned to the law abiding citizens who at present are in fear of the actions taken against them as victims. we all know at heart that the criminals in this country are are better off than the victims.
it won't be long until fire and paramedics won't turn up to save you or your children without a police escort and we all know how few police officers that there are on our streets.
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