Emergency service in Bernau attacked: paramedic seriously injured!

Emergency service in Bernau attacked: paramedic seriously injured!

Last week there were two frightening incidents that shed light on the safety situation for rescue workers in Germany. While a 62-year-old man in Bernau seriously injured a 24-year-old paramedic during a rescue operation, an emergency paramedic in Dresden was attacked by a patient and is now on sick leave for several weeks. Such attacks bring the increasing problem of violence against rescue workers into public awareness.

The incident in Bernau occurred on June 22, 2025. The 62-year-old, who needed medical attention, was extremely aggressive during the operation. After a witness reported the man in the ditch, the rescue team was alerted. The man was in trouble because of the heat, but when the team came to help, he suddenly punched the paramedic in the face. The injuries she sustained were serious and the rescue team was subsequently confronted with an unexpectedly threatening situation. When the team came across another accident on the A11 motorway after the medical mission and stopped, the situation worsened: the 62-year-old became aggressive, which ultimately led to police forces having to intervene and overpower the man. The investigation into the physical attack on the rescue workers is now underway, and the perpetrator was taken to the hospital under police escort, as moz.de reports.

Attacking patient in Dresden

The situation in Dresden was similarly dramatic, where a 39-year-old emergency paramedic was attacked by an 18-year-old patient on Friday morning. She was in an exceptional psychological situation when her friends made the emergency call. While the ambulance crew tried to persuade the patient to go to the hospital, a violent incident occurred. The patient kicked the paramedic and broke his hand. Here too, police escort was necessary to transport the patient to the hospital. The emergency paramedic is expected to be out for several weeks, and in this case too, a report of bodily harm has been filed. It is the second incident in a week, which underlines the worrying increase in attacks on rescue workers, as mdr.de notes.

Assaults in emergency services: A sad reality

According to a study by the German Red Cross (DRK), such incidents are unfortunately commonplace in the emergency services. Over 40% of emergency responders report verbal assault, while about a third experience both verbal and physical attacks. The most common form of violence is insults and name-calling, followed by physical attacks such as hitting and kicking. An increase in demanding behavior on the part of patients is also cited as a potential cause. Employees in inner-city areas in particular are often affected by these attacks, which raises serious questions about safety and working conditions. Gerda Hasselfeldt, President of the DRK, is therefore calling for improved training for employees and consistent prosecution of crimes in order to ensure the safety of rescue workers. Further details on this topic can be found on the [DRK] website (https://www.drk.de/presse/pressemitigungen/melde/drk-studie-uebergriffe-gehoeren-zum-alltag-im-rettungsdienst/).

The incidents in Bernau and Dresden are not just shocking; They illustrate an increasingly urgent problem in the healthcare system. More and more rescue workers are being exposed to violence that simply cannot be tolerated. A rethink is required so that helpers in emergency situations do not become targets themselves.