By Rachel Engel
SA国际传媒
COBB COUNTY, Ga. 鈥� A paramedic was allegedly attacked by her patient in the back of the ambulance while en route to a hospital, WSBTV reported.
According to police, the patient struck the Metro Atlanta Ambulance Service (MAAS) paramedic multiple times and shoved her head into a cabinet located in the back of the ambulance more than once, before grabbing her wrists.
The patient was reportedly arrested and charged with a felony. The paramedic is 鈥渄oing well,鈥� according to Dennis Westover, director of MAAS.
Kimberly Littleton, executive director of the Georgia EMS Association, is concerned with the rise of violence against providers.
鈥淲e鈥檙e obviously very concerned about the safety of all of our providers across the state,鈥� Littleton said. 鈥淭here are a lot of EMS services, not only private, but also county and fire-based operations that are putting more cameras in ambulances to monitor those situations.鈥�
Westover said MAAS providers are trained on how to handle violent encounters, but sometimes, it鈥檚 not enough.
鈥淯nfortunately when anyone gets hurt in public safety, it鈥檚 one too many,鈥� he said.