Hawke's Bay ambulance staff are undertaking personal protection training to stay safe in an increasingly volatile workplace.
Hawke's Bay St John staff suffered 27 accidents in the past financial year - including 10 while undertaking manual handling activities, six while caught on equipment, two falls/trips/slips and three when struck - by, for instance, something falling off a shelf. Two officers were assaulted while on duty.
St John Hawke's Bay district operations manager Stephen Smith said while St John worked to mitigate risks, dangers were ever present from intoxicated people who saw a uniform rather than a person there to help them.
Violent situations could often erupt without warning when staff were unable to meet some people's expectations or when family members were grieving for a loved one.
"Dealing with people who are directly under the influence of alcohol or drugs often results in patients who are unpredictable and at times irrational."