Turku, Finland — Recent research reveals a troubling trend regarding violence against paramedics, highlighting the precarious nature of their work. The two-year study, conducted by local academic institutions and emergency services, found that emergency responders face violence during approximately one out of every 100 call-outs.
The study categorizes violent incidents as physical, verbal, or sexual in nature, identifying a rate of 0.7 incidents per 100 calls. Jani Paulin, a senior lecturer at Turku University of Applied Sciences, emphasized the incomplete nature of these statistics, suggesting that many incidents go unreported. “This underscores a significant issue within the profession,” Paulin noted, pointing to the urgent need for solutions to protect health care workers.
Factors contributing to heightened violence include weekends, urban environments, male patients under the influence of alcohol, and pre-existing mental health conditions. Interestingly, more than 30% of violent incidents involved a perpetrator who had been drinking. While the patient is often the instigator, paramedics also report threats from bystanders, including family members at the scene.
Most violent encounters occur in the patient’s home, but attacks have also been noted in ambulances and public locations. Given the limited police resources available during emergencies, operational guidelines for handling potentially violent situations remain unclear, contributing to the danger faced by paramedics.
The study recommends implementing clearer protocols and providing enhanced organizational support to better prepare paramedics for these risks. These changes could improve both emergency response and the safety of personnel serving on the front lines.
In a broader context, the number of emergency calls in Finland has decreased recently, with the Emergency Response Centre Agency managing around 2.7 million calls in 2025, a notable decline from the previous year’s figures. Despite the drop, the number of tasks forwarded to authorities has increased, highlighting an ongoing responsibility for emergency services.
Average response times for emergency calls have remained efficient, with the agency reporting an average answer time of about six seconds. Among the calls handled, approximately 700,000 were directed to emergency medical services, while a significant portion was forwarded to law enforcement and social services.
Furthermore, the agency has noted a rising need for interpreters as emergency calls in foreign languages have surged, particularly in the wake of the war in Ukraine. Over 1,800 calls required interpretation services last year, covering more than 40 languages, with Ukrainian and Russian being the most frequent requests.
This increase in linguistic diversity reflects Finland’s evolving demographics and the necessity for emergency services to adapt to better serve all residents. As the challenges in emergency medical response evolve, so too must the strategies to ensure the safety and efficacy of all personnel involved.