Coffee to go

Hot liquid can be a great self-defense solution. Hope McDonald's won't be sued this time around for serving their coffee too hot...

Maine -- Portland police said a 25-year-old man's craving for drugs lead to a crime spree that included an attempt to drive of with an ambulance, three armed robberies and attempted theft of a cash register.

The suspect was arrested after he was doused with hot coffee by a McDonald's restaurant employee as he allegedly attempted to steal a cash register, according to wbztv.com.

Hazards at work, 34

Sweden -- Threats and violence against Uppsala ambulance personnel is far more widespread than what the official statistics show, according to unt.se.

In fact, violence is such a regular occurrence that many don't bother to press charges or even file reports, according to health personnel.

Patients starting to fight during rescue operations, threats and violence from bystanders, drunken people interfering during the Weekends, and even assaults with axes and knives, are just some of the examples.

Hazards at work, 12

Wales, UK -- An ambulance man has described how he was chased and attacked with a carving knife while on a call-out.

The 35-year-old, from Bargoed in Caerphilly county says he has had four months off work this year because of two assaults while doing his job.

He spoke as a Welsh MP's bill giving greater protection to emergency workers gets closer to becoming law.

A 52-year-old female paramedic from Cardiff, also described how she was punched in the chest when she tried to stop a man stealing an ambulance from the station.

"We've had plenty of violent attacks on staff and we tend not to even bother reporting the verbal abuse and foul language," she said.

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