West Va. EMS Providers Receive Defensive Training

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- EMS providers in Cabell Co. recently received defensive training.

"EMS providers are being attacked, they're being assaulted," Cabell County EMS Director of Education Marsha Knight said. "We've had providers that have had broken bones. We've had providers that have needed stitches. You're just not sure what you're going to walk into anymore."

Cabell County EMS isn't alone as this issue has become a problem nation-wide.

"The numbers are just staggering," DT4EMS Trainer Kip Teitsort said. "As a general rule, it's 52% of EMS providers have been injured due to violence on the job. Mostly it's punches, kicks, spit on, chokes. Everything from broken jaws, broken ribs, broken fingers, bites. This is what the average healthcare provider faces."

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