The Hard Facts
Why is there such an increase in violence being seen by first responders, healthcare providers, and in the private sector?
There are multiple theories as to why this might be occurring.
Possible causes might include and are not limited to:
Deinstitualization, Self-medicated mental illness, under / non-medicated mental illness, misuse of alcohol/medication & illicit drug usage, organic brain disorders.
Is the Violence Getting Worse?
It appears that the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath have exacerbated the problem. A study in the September 2022 issue of Workplace & Health Safety showed that a significant number of hospital nurses reported facing increased physical violence and verbal abuse from patients, loved ones, and visitors compared with pre-pandemic levels.
Nurses, doctors, and other staff on the front lines of care in U.S. hospitals, emergency departments, and healthcare systems experience high rates of violence. This has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.
Attacks at US medical centers show why health care is one of the nation’s most violent fields
“Health care workers don’t even think about that when they decide they want to be a nurse or a doctor. But as far as actual violence goes, statistically, health care is four or five times more dangerous than any other profession,” said Michael D’Angelo, a former police officer who focuses on health care and workplace violence as a security consultant in Florida.
Violence on planes is at an all-time high. Flight attendants’ jobs have never been more dangerous.
In a normal year, the FAA investigates fewer than 200 incidents of violent behavior. This year, even before the summer holiday travel season, that number is 990.
What’s really going on out there? and what does the science tell us.
What’s really going on out there? What does the science tell us?
National study of ambulance transports to United States emergency departments:
Importance of Mental Health Problems
The rates for ED visits of persons conveyed by ambulance were stable between 1997 and 2003, consisting of approximately one in every seven ED visits (14%). In 2003, there were 16.2 million ED visits for which an ambulance was used in the U.S. However, for patients with mental health visits, nearly one in three ED presentations (31%) arrived by ambulance.
Conclusion: Reliance on ambulance services varies by age, insurance status, geographic factors, time of day, urgency of visit, subsequent admission status, and type of mental health disorder.
Microsoft Word - 2020 EMS Assessment_v2.0.docx (nasemso.org)
The International Impact of Violence against EMS Providers
The national average for non-fatal occupational injury rates per 100 full-time workers per year is 5.8. The EMS industry average is 34.6.
The national average for fatalities per 100,000 workers is 5. The EMS industry average is 12.7.
Problems and complaints reported by respondents in response to stressful experiences include symptoms of PTSD and depression, including being extra watchful and on guard, avoiding talking about an event or feelings, and repeatedly having disturbing memories or thoughts.
Of violent incidents reported, being punched or slapped was the most common, and the most commonly reported injuries were bruises, contusions, abrasions and scratches.
