KEY POINTS:
St John Ambulance officers subjected to increasing levels of intimidation and violence with weapons are considering stab-proof vests for protection.
National Distribution Union ambulance co-ordinator Craig Page said the calls for some officers to be kitted with stab-resistant body armour was raised at a meeting with management in Auckland.
The calls follow increasing instances of intimidatory and aggressive behaviour aimed at ambulance officers.
Mr Page said paramedics worked in extreme conditions where patient information was often poor and officer safety could not be assured.
"Paramedics are responding to an increasing number of callouts that are placing crews in violent or potentially violent situations," he said.
"These callouts can involve aggressive or intimidatory behaviour from bystanders, family members and sometimes the patient themselves through to more physical occurrences where weapons are involved or paramedics are assaulted."
One ambulance officer, who spoke to the Herald on the condition he was not named, said he responded to a medical alarm in Auckland only to arrive at the house to confront a man wielding a large kitchen knife.
"This man was trying to kill a woman in her lounge ... she couldn't get to the phone to call police so the next best thing was to use her medical alarm and we arrived there instead," he said.
"It is sad because we're there to save lives but we really do need these things sooner rather than later," he said.
The man said the stabbing of Austin Hemmings in central Auckland in September highlighted the dangers officers faced.
"We go into these situations not knowing why these people had been attacked, if the offender is still in the area or if they will see us as a threat to them because we're helping the person they attacked," he said.
St John spokeswoman Ali Tocker confirmed the organisation had looked at stab-resistant body armour among other options to protect staff.
She said there were 26 assaults on ambulance officers between 2006 and 2007 - a jump on the 19 recorded assaults in 2004.
Ms Tocker said most physical assaults against ambulance officers tended to be by bystanders at a scene.
If ambulance officers do receive stab-resistant body armour they will join the likes of police and Auckland SPCA officers who have used the protective vests since last year.
A police spokesman said the tailor-made vests, which cost about $10 million to equip 7000 frontline police officers, contain kevlar plates and generally weigh between three and five kilograms.
They provide protection against screwdrivers, knives and machetes and some defence against firearms up to 9mm in calibre.
SPCA Auckland chief executive Bob Kerridge said its inspectors wore a lightweight version of stab-resistant body armour.
They were necessary as inspectors often worked alone and went into areas where they were uncertain and safety could be an issue.
"It's indicative of the times we live in and unfortunately a precaution that we have to take," he said.
