CASE STUDY #1

EMS worker Karen has also had her fair share of scary incidents.

Her unit recently responded to an emergency call for an emotionally disturbed patient in northern Manhattan.

The unruly patient was cuffed from behind but while being transported in the ambulance to the hospital, he banged his head against the wall. He also started shifting his hands to reach for a gun in the back of his jeans before it was discovered and taken away from him.

“I’ve been threatened. I’ve been kicked in the face by a patient. I’ve been spit at,” said the EMT, who requested anonymity.

“I have a family to go home to. We just want to help people. We don’t want to get attacked.”