Emergency Medical Services are calling on residents to protect their paramedics after two teams were attacked in two separate incidents, in which one medic was left with an injured eye and the window of an ambulance smashed.
On Sunday, a team was dispatched to De La Rey Road in Ravensmead and while transporting a patient at 4.40am, the van was stoned and the windscreen smashed.
A female medic was left with an injured eye.
On the same day, just after 10.35pm, another team was attacked in Atlantis while attending to a patient.
During this incident, the team was robbed of their belongings but were not injured.
EMS spokesperson Deanna Bessick says they have noted that most of the incidents take place in volatile areas and are asking the communities to help safeguard their teams.
ATTACK: Paramedics
“The first incident involved an EMS ambulance that was stoned at 4.40am in De La Rey Street, Ravensmead.
“The crew was transporting a patient to Tygerberg Hospital. The vehicle’s windscreen was shattered completely, which also injured a female paramedic’s eye.
“The other incident occurred in Atlantis at 10.35pm when EMS personnel were robbed of their personal belongings whilst treating a patient.
“Fortunately, no major injuries have been reported.”
She says a total of 26 EMS-related incidents have been reported in 2019: “Often these attacks take place in the extremely vulnerable communities where emergency services are most needed.
“The WCGH urges all residents to protect EMS personnel while they are rendering this very important service. Please report it to the nearest police station should you witness anything.”