CALDWELL COUNTY, N.C. — Paramedics and EMTs in Caldwell County will be supplied with new life-saving equipment.
The crews will soon have dozens of bulletproof vests and ballistic helmets at their EMS bases. The vests also protect first responders if a knife is pulled on them.
Channel 9′s Dave Faherty found out during 2020, Caldwell County paramedics and EMTs were assaulted three times while providing medical attention. All of the incidents happened in the back of ambulances.
Fortunately none of the injuries were serious.
The 29 bulletproof vests will be used on calls like overdoses, domestic abuse calls, and any response involving a shooting or stabbing. Johnathan Cook with Caldwell County Emergency Services said it was time for the change to be made.
“At least weekly you’re gonna see paramedics around the country getting assaulted, some seriously injured,” Cook said. “We felt like it was time to step forward and protect our employees.”
Caldwell EMS officials said they were able to buy the vests and helmets for $33,000 through budget savings in 2020 and with the backing of county commissioners.
The paramedics and EMTs will undergo two hours of training before getting the vests. They’ll start using them as early as the beginning of November.
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