A daunting incident at a downtown Kelowna ambulance station has the union representing paramedics calling for instant security enhancements.
“We don’t need it to take a paramedic dying for change to occur,” mentioned Ian Tait, communications director for the Ambulance Paramedics of B.C.
Early Tuesday morning, a paramedic was washing an ambulance within the station’s storage bay on Lawrence Avenue when he abruptly got here head to head with a knife-wielding lady screaming and allegedly uttering threats.
“The assailant popped out from behind the ambulance brandishing like a four-inch searching knife with, like an edged tip on it,” Tait mentioned.
In line with Tait, the suspect took at the very least two swipes on the paramedic with the knife
“Fortunately the paramedic had the wash broom. It’s like a broomstick with a bristled brush on the top, and form of used it in between,” Tait mentioned.
The paramedic was capable of de-escalate the state of affairs and the suspect ultimately took off.
RCMP have been unable to trace the lady down.
A spokesperson for Kelowna RCMP mentioned police are nonetheless investigating the incident.
Luckily, the paramedic was not injured.
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“The paramedic instructed me straight to my face, if I didn’t have the broom factor in my hand, I’d have gotten stabbed,” Tait mentioned.
The union representing paramedics says that is simply the newest in quite a few regarding incidents on the downtown Kelowna web site, the place homelessness and dependancy have grown considerably in recent times.
It’s calling on the employer to enhance security measures.
“We positively need BCEHS to, you realize, cease developing with excuses about why they don’t take security severely at that Kelowna station. This has been an ongoing situation for years,” mentioned Tait.
“We’re very involved as we see violence escalating in opposition to paramedics that it’s only a matter of time earlier than somebody turns into severely, severely injured or killed.”
BC Emergency Well being Companies (BCEHS) mentioned the protection of its workers is paramount.
“A really horrifying incident,” mentioned Leanne Heppell,” BCEHS govt vp & chief ambulance officer. “We’re wrapping our arms round our workers.”
Heppell mentioned BCEHS has employed a safety firm to patrol the positioning because it discusses extra long-term choices.
“We might be working hand in glove on initiatives transferring ahead,” Heppell instructed World Information. “We’ve got 183, 186 in case you rely our dispatch facilities throughout the province, and we’re attempting to work via every of them so far as you realize, station enhancements the place wanted, however most, specifically, specializing in security.”
However Tait mentioned it’s actions, not phrases, which are urgently wanted.
“We don’t need it to take a paramedic dying for change to occur,” Tait mentioned.
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