By Leila Merrill
NEW YORK — The number of attacks on New York City EMS providers more than doubled between 2018 and 2021, Fox5NY reported.
The 2018 number was 160, and in 2021, more than 380 attacks were reported.
EMT Kelley Gumbs said he has been attacked by patients three times in recent years.
https://twitter.com/FDNY/status/1528695006608990208
“The other unpopular pandemic that’s been going on in recent years is the pandemic of mental health,” Gumbs said.
EMT Richard McMahon was shot by a patient while in the ambulance last week.
FDNY has posted messages on social media to remind the public that EMS providers work to help people and that assaults are illegal.
FDNY said that it also trains its first responders in self-defense and de-escalation.