Attack on paramedic: man spits on her in Mannheim!

Attack on paramedic: man spits on her in Mannheim!

An incident in Mannheim has once again brought violence against rescue workers into focus. On Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at around 9:30 p.m., an aggressive attack occurred at the rescue station on “Auf dem Sand” street by a 67-year-old man who spat directly in the face of a 27-year-old paramedic. This brutal incident, which according to vierneheim-online.de called the police into action, shows how dangerous everyday life has become for emergency service workers.

The paramedic and her colleague were busy reversing the ambulance when the man suddenly hit the vehicle's windows. The distraction caused the driver to slightly collide with a gate of the vehicle hall, which resulted in damage to the blue lights. After the first attack, the 67-year-old approached again and spat specifically at the paramedic again. The police had to intervene and arrested the man, but he was released after a short time. A charge of assault is expected.

A problem of alarming frequency

The incident has brought to light a worrying reality, as documented in various studies. The emergency services are increasingly confronted with attacks; According to a study by the German Red Cross, almost all employees report at least one incident within twelve months. Over 40% experience only verbal abuse, while a third experience both verbal and physical violence.

Verbal humiliation is particularly common; 18.4% of rescue workers are exposed to insults and verbal abuse at least once or twice a week. In three quarters of the cases, it is the patients themselves who become perpetrators. Physical attacks such as hitting or kicking also occur; more than 31% of rescue workers experience pushing or similar attacks.

The psychological consequences

The underlying causes are complex. An increasing sense of entitlement on the part of patients is often identified as a trigger for the aggression. The psychologist Prof. Dr. Dirk Richter has found that assaults can even cause post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Around 15 to 20% of those who have experienced serious assault are at high risk for PTSD, highlighting the importance of targeted follow-up care. Here, too, the question arises as to how employers can implement their duty of care and introduce suitable preventative measures.

In order to increase the safety of the emergency services, protective measures such as de-escalation training and targeted training courses are necessary, as stated in the recommendations of sicherer-rettungsdienst.de. In addition, communication structures must be improved between the various parties involved, from the control center to the rescue workers themselves.

This incident and the challenges it poses are an urgent wake-up call. The emergency services employees not only deserve our recognition, but also our support so that they can carry out their dangerous jobs safely and professionally.