Anti-stab vests for 999 crews
Ambulance crews across the Black Country and Birmingham are to spend almost £1 million on trialling the use of stab-proof vests after dozens of attacks on paramedics – with weapons used ranging from bags to false legs.
Ambulance crews across the Black Country and Birmingham are to spend almost £1 million on trialling the use of stab-proof vests after dozens of attacks on paramedics – with weapons used ranging from bags to false legs.
The move follows 67 reported assaults on crews between April 2007 and last month, prompting a review of health and safety rules.
The vests have to be made to individual specifications and the cost of eventually equipping all crews could be about £840,000.
Weapons used on crews included a false leg, rucksack, a kettle and a TV remote control.
The region's attacks account for more than half of the assaults on West Midlands Ambulance Service staff across the whole region, including Staffordshire, Shropshire, Coventry, Warwickshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Diane Lee, who is the director of corporate services, said that a survey of workers had shown that 475 were in favour of wearing stab vests and 201 against.
