Australian Ambulance Drivers May Learn Verbal Judo

This past Saturday (February 14), two Australian paramedics had to lock themselves in their ambulance, after being attacked by 40 punks with golf clubs and cricket bats.

The drivers escaped unhurt, but to avoid future incidents like this, the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) said they would arm their drivers and train them to defend themselves.

No, I'm just kidding. They're going to train them in the fine art of "verbal judo." Because everyone knows that the best way for two unarmed ambulance drivers to face down an angry mob of armed teenagers is with logic and linguistic cleverness.

QAS commissioner David Melville told Australia's News.com: "There's a number of options we're looking at with self-defence training, and an emphasis on de-escalation and communication skills rather than actual physical self-defence."

Melville said paramedics might benefit from the "verbal judo" techniques used by Australian cops.

Paramedics will be trained in techniques including processing feelings, emergency patient psychology, and "I know you are, but what am I?"


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