Stoning, shooting and hijacking are an occupation hazard for South Africa’s emergency medical services (EMS), with parts of the Eastern Cape having been declared "danger zones" for crews, and Western Cape paramedics having already been attacked on 41 occasions this year.
Driving into the red zones – areas considered so dangerous that personnel are not allowed to enter without a police escort to ensure their safety – has become more hazardous than ever, with crews fearing for their lives on a daily basis, reports News24.
Last week, the Eastern Cape Department of Health confirmed the declaration of areas around Mthatha as “danger zones for emergency vehicles”, especially at night, after a series of attacks targeted at emergency vehicles and personnel.
Department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo said the N2 between Mthatha and Qumbu was particularly concerning.
Over the weekend in Nelson Mandela Bay, a brick was thrown at an ambulance, injuring one crew member, and in the Western Cape, EMS spokesperson Megan Davids said there were four red zones in the province, and there had been more than 40 attacks on 70 EMS personnel this year.
These ranged from robbery and stonings to threats at gunpoint and hijackings.
“For EMS, the outcomes of these attacks are absenteeism and the increased prevalence of work-related illnesses, all of which contribute to fewer resources being available to respond to emergencies.”
Emer-G-Med spokesperson Kyle van Reenen said ambulances were coming under attack countrywide. In KwaZulu-Natal, the most dangerous areas included KwaMashu, Inanda and Ntuzuma.
Van Reenen was once held hostage in Phoenix; survived an attempted hijacking in Chesterville; and was nearly stabbed in Glenwood.
Other first responders are robbed or shot at, he said.
He added that a new danger paramedics face comes from cash-in-transit heists, which are sometimes initially reported as car accidents, leading paramedics to potentially drive into a gunfight.
Netcare 911 national operations director Shalen Ramduth said cases involving paramedics “highlight the fact that they do, unfortunately, operate within a risky environment”.
He added that Netcare had enhanced the security of its vehicles and their occupants by installing satellite tracking, navigation systems and a panic alarm in each vehicle.
ER24, meanwhile, has implemented measures to safeguard medics in specific regions, including having a police escort or security services to specific regions.
“Our medics are also trained in situational awareness, meaning they can mentally prepare themselves for violence,” said ER24’s Ineke van Huyssteen.
The emergency response service also uses tracking and panic systems for staff operating in red zones and hostile environments.
Public health expert Alex van den Heever said the attacks on EMS personnel were a “serious” concern.
“The levels of violence in South Africa… are significant, and then this level of uncertainty is added. You can’t be worrying about your own safety when you’re trying to help someone,” he said.
See more from MedicalBrief archives:
Gauteng EMS plagued by attacks and shortages
Robbers attack EMS crews, steal ECG machines, equipment, phones
‘Don’t attack us!’ EMS staff plead
Joburg EMS personnel attacked on a ‘weekly basis’
Ekurhuleni and Jhb: Upsurge of attacks on EMS personnel