Baron Johnson testifies on EMT and paramedic safety

Hey, how you doing?

My name is Baron Johnson, also a paramedic in New York City.

I came here today wondering what I could possibly say in such a short amount of time, because the truth is I could speak for days about what EMTs and paramedics experience and how often

the very people who dedicate their lives to helping others are left feeling unprotected themselves.

As I sit here today speaking for the men and women who dedicate their lives to helping others, often putting their lives and safety at risk.

Everyday EMTs and paramedics walk into situations most people could never imagine.

We witness violence, tragedies, and death, yet we are still expected to remain calm, professional, and compassionate.

We sacrifice our bodies, our times, our families, and sometimes our mental health, but we keep coming back because we love what we do.

We want to be a beacon of hope for the people when they're in their

Worst moments in their lives.

But today I have one question.

Who takes care of us?

When we are assaulted, when we are threatened, and when we are forced to defend ourselves, who stands up for us?

No EMT or paramedic should ever have to choose between protecting their own life and protecting their career.

We took an oath to help people.

But we did not take an oath to become punching bags.

We deserve protection, we deserve support, and we deserve to go home safely to our families without feeling that defending ourselves could cost us our livelihood.

So today I'm asking our elected officials, healthcare leaders, EMS agencies, unions, and communities to stand with us.

Enough is enough.

When society needs us to show up, because someone can't breathe, we show up.

When someone is dying, we show up.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much for your testimony.

This panel is excused.

Next up, we have Jareth.

Swayaseya, Mark Tabashnik.

Matthew Brevent.

Jason Framowitz.

Please, please make your way up.

We don't have a hard stop.

We're going through the whole night.

Peter Reed?

Ira Gershenhorn.

See you over here.

I understand the folks have left, so we're going to make sure we get to everybody.

Eleanor Wong.

Eleanor here.

Carrie Flaherty.

Gorman Riley.

All right, we have Gorman here.

Carlos, Elaine, Allie.

Sumana Hari Hari Swara.

All right, Sumana's here.

We have space for a few more.

Chris Sanders.

We'll add you to the next panel.

I had a lot of people here have to go.

What's his name?

There's an Avisa panel that's next, just so you're aware.

Please.