Turku, Finland — A recent comprehensive study reveals that paramedics in Finland face significant risks of violent encounters while on duty, particularly under certain conditions. Factors such as weekend shifts, urban environments, intoxicated male patients, and underlying mental health issues substantially elevate the likelihood of violent incidents.
The two-year research initiative, an effort among Turku University of Applied Sciences, the University of Turku, and the Southwest Finland Emergency Department, examined cases of violence against emergency responders. The findings indicate that about one out of every 100 emergency calls resulted in some form of physical, verbal, or sexual violence. Jani Paulin, a senior lecturer at Turku University of Applied Sciences, emphasized that the actual rate could be higher, as not all incidents are formally reported.
Alcohol consumption emerges as a major concern, with over 30% of assailants reportedly under the influence during the incidents. Most often, the violence originated from the patients themselves, though paramedics have also faced aggression from family members or bystanders. The home was identified as a common venue for these attacks, but other incidents occurred in ambulances, healthcare facilities, or public spaces.
Paulin noted that limited police resources hinder effective responses to threatening situations in emergency care. The study calls for clearer guidelines, proactive measures for risk assessment, and enhanced organizational support for paramedics.
Interestingly, despite the alarming rates of violence, the overall number of emergency calls in Finland has declined. In 2025, the Emergency Response Centre Agency processed nearly 2.7 million calls, a drop from approximately 2.8 million the previous year, marking the lowest volume in two decades. The agency’s quality manager, Emma Paasonen, pointed out that while total calls decreased, the proportion of tasks requiring authority involvement actually rose by about 2 percent.
Emergency response times remained swift, averaging around six seconds across the board. This efficiency is notable given that half of the calls led to dispatches to relevant agencies, including emergency medical services and law enforcement.
Amid these developments, there is a growing demand for language interpretation services. The rise in foreign language calls, particularly due to international events such as the war in Ukraine, underscores this trend. The Emergency Response Centre Agency noted that it received 595 calls in Ukrainian alone last year, and a total of 1,844 calls required interpreters in various languages. Russian was the most common language for interpreted calls, followed closely by Ukrainian and Arabic.
This increased reliance on interpreters highlights the evolving demographic landscape and the challenges faced by emergency services in addressing the needs of diverse communities. As Finland grapples with these issues, ongoing research and strategic improvements will be vital in enhancing the safety and efficacy of emergency responders.