Paramedic threatened at knifepoint inside Kelowna ambulance station, union says
CTV
The union representing ambulance paramedics in B.C. is calling on the province to beef up security after they say a knife-wielding woman attacked a worker.
The union representing ambulance paramedics in B.C. is calling on the province to beef up security after they say a knife-wielding woman attacked a worker.
Ian Tait, communications director for Ambulance Paramedics of B.C., told CTV News a paramedic was washing an ambulance inside the station in downtown Kelowna with the bay door open in the early hours of Dec. 10, when an agitated woman brandishing a knife confronted him.
“She was clearly in distress, making all sorts of threats of violence and potentially wanted to stab the paramedic,” Tait said.
The union says the paramedic kept his distance from the alleged attacker using a wash brush until more staff arrived to de-escalate the situation.
Nobody was injured during the incident, but it was “definitely a scary situation for everybody involved,” Tait said.
He said paramedics working at the Kelowna station and others nearby have brought forward many safety issues recently including people breaking into cars and setting fires.
“Our paramedics day in and day out are noticing an increase in violence,” said Tait. “We’re dealing with more unhoused, more people suffering from addictions, toxic drug stuff and people really suffering in the community, and we’ve noticed that the safety of our members is more and more in jeopardy every year.”
