Experiences of violence are significantly under-reported because there is no standardized complaint system for working paramedics. But a new survey is hoping to shed more light on the issue.
Even after 23 years, Kelly Edwards stills loves being a paramedic.
“It’s very unpredictable. It’s exciting,” she said. “You meet a lot of nice people.”
But she admits there’s a much darker side to the job, too.
Edwards recalls a time she and her partner were treating an agitated patient. That patient threw a piece of furniture at her partner, breaking his arm.
“That was super uncomfortable, unacceptable,” the Ottawa paramedic said.
Edwards said she’s also been hit, kicked and spat on numerous times throughout her career. That’s on top of the verbal abuse and sexual harassment she faces daily.
“I’ve heard lots of threats of being sexually assaulted and descriptions on how they do that,” said Edwards. “It’s pretty uncomfortable when you’re in the back [of the ambulance] or …