A firefighter was punched in the jaw this week while responding to a medical call in Glendale, California.
The firefighter and his crew were attempting to assist the mother of a 28-year-old man with psychiatric issues, according to theLos Angeles Times(http://lat.ms/16PexAW).
The mother of the alleged assailant called for an ambulance, but canceled it while firefighters were en route. When the firefighters arrived on scene, the man reportedly interacted with firefighters, then struck one member, who was not seriously injured by the blow.
Firefighters took the man to the ground and restrained him until police arrived.
Read more on this event athttp://lat.ms/16PexAW.
Although not serious, news of this low-level violence came afterseveral firefighters were taken hostageduring a medical call gone bad in Georgia, and months after ashooting that killed two firefightersat a call in New York. It underscores the very real threat ofviolencethat firefighters face when responding to emergencies. For more on dealing with these issues, considerPROTECTING FIREFIGHTERS FROM VIOLENCE,Firefighter Safety: Firefighters and Violence : Nine Questions You Should Ask, andNew Free Firefighters/EMT Self-Defense Program Available.
