If help gets dangerous: emergency doctor Peter Lessing on violence in action

If help gets dangerous: emergency doctor Peter Lessing on violence in action

In today's society, the issue of violence against emergency services is increasingly coming to the fore. A particularly urgent representative of this problem is the emergency doctor Peter Lessing, who works at the Oberschwabenklinik in Ravensburg. He not only has the duty to save human life, but also has to ask himself the question of how he can deal with disrespectful and even aggression in extreme situations.

A frightening phenomenon

Lessing's experiences are alarming: paramedics and emergency doctors are regularly exposed to verbal and physical attacks. "It felt as if someone has stabbed with a knife," he recalls a particularly brutal incident when he after an operation. was beaten. The incident that happened on the night of May 1st many years ago was not the first, but certainly one of the most violent. Such experiences not only put the physical, but also the mental health of the rescue workers.

Empathy in focus

The importance of respectful handling of emergency doctors and rescue workers is essential. Lessing emphasizes that society is becoming increasingly violent towards people who help in difficult situations. "It's all about the personal faster, higher and further. Some get lost in it," says Lessing. These changes require a rethinking in society and a re -evaluation of the values that we share.

Enlightenment and sensitization

In order to raise awareness of the challenges in this area, Lessing is also part of the "Man behind" initiative. This campaign, which takes place in the Schwäbisch Media, sensitizes the public for the difficult working conditions of emergency services, bus drivers, police officers and other professional groups that often have to experience violence. The accompanying exhibition will be shown in the media house of the “Schwäbische Zeitung” in Ravensburg from September 11th.

Conversation and exchange

A central component of the initiative is a public talk that will take place on September 11 from 6.30pm to 9pm in the media house. Peter Lessing not only hopes to spread information about violence against rescue workers from the event, but also to create space for discussions and the exchange of experiences. "I want this to come into people's minds and to evoke understanding," he says.

The need to change

The experiences of violence that Peter Lessing and his colleagues suffer, throw a light on a deeper social question: How do we deal with each other, especially in stressful situations? The increase in disrespect for rescue workers requires an urgent rethink and a return to more empathy in everyday life. Only through collective efforts and open discussions can a safe and respectful approach to be promoted in our society.

- Nag