There are 136 Bristol postal area locations on the Great Western Ambulance Service (GWAS) computer warning system which tells para- medics of possible danger before they enter the property.

The Post obtained data from GWAS using the Freedom of Information Act to show where in the city ambulance staff need to be prepared for possible danger.

They are broken down into categories of physical violence against ambulance staff, non-physical violence and aggression, violence that has been reported by other NHS organisations, inappropriate sexual behaviour, and properties where paramedics should be in contact with the police before entering.

The ambulance service also provides staff with warnings of homes with aggressive animals or patients with certain medical conditions who might require specific care.

Ambulance professionals say the system does not mean they will not help people at flagged addresses but it does enable them to prepare a suitable response.

Paramedic Chris Hewett said: "I can think of lots of occasions where we have been able to adjust the way we responded to make it more appropriate or safer. Forewarned is forearmed."

Overall, the figures obtained by the Post showed 70 locations in the Bristol postal area which were highlighted for non-physical violence and aggression towards the paramedics, 42 for violence reported by other NHS staff, nine for physical violence, seven as a result of inappropriate sexual behaviour, and eight properties that require police presence.

The data showed more incidents of violence and aggression at properties in the BS5 area of the city than anywhere else, including two reports of physical violence against ambulance staff, 10 cases of non-physical violence, 13 incidents of violence reported by hospital or GP staff and three warnings to contact police.

There are 11 properties in the BS23 area of Weston-super-Mare on the warning system, nine due to non-physical violence and aggression and two following violence towards other NHS staff.

In BS4, which includes Brislington and St Anne's, 10 properties are highlighted.

In the BS13 area, there are also 10 locations highlighted which cover Bedminster Down, Bishopsworth and Hartcliffe.

In November, a mob of 30 people in Ashley Road, St Paul's, attacked an ambulance which was attending an incident at Tasties cafe.

A female paramedic needed hospital treatment after being assaulted as she tried to help a heart attack victim.

And last March, two paramedics were assaulted by a drunk man they found in an alleyway while in January another female paramedic was slapped in the face with "full force" by a collapsed man after she asked him what drugs he had taken.

Mr Hewett, a Unison steward and health and safety representative, said the warning system is reassuring for ambulance staff.

Chris said: "It starts off with us reporting potential problems and they are then assessed in a pragmatic, sensible way.

Chris can remember the warning system helping to save a life when a man collapsed at a property. A flag alerted the crew that there was a person at the address who had a tracheostomy, and while they could not be sure it was the same patient, they took the precaution of taking the relevant kit into the property and were right to do so, as the standard kit would not have been suitable.

Mr Hewett said the flagging system also highlights frequent callers, whether it is people who misuse the service or patients who are very unwell, which means the crew have more information about the patient before they arrive, such as which hospital to take them to.

He said the flagging system does not highlight every property in the city where an incident of violence or aggression has occurred, but each report is considered after the event to determine whether there is a risk to paramedics attending the location again in the future.

Chris said: "As ambulance crews, it is at the back of our minds all the time that something could go wrong and that the scene could turn nasty, that is the nature of our job, whether we are walking into a lovely detached house in Sneyd Park or a council estate in Southmead or a community in South Bristol."