St John has released a graphic video highlighting the dangers its paramedics face while out on the job, calling on the public to keep their "hands off our ambos.''

The video was released via its social media outlets this morning.

In it, an ambulance officer explains exactly how terrifying their job can be while trying to help people.

"I didn't realise it at the time that he'd actually broken my back.''

Up to 60 St John ambulance officers are abused and assaulted a week, the video tells.

The male ambulance officer goes on to say that a lot of the time, they are verbally abused or attacked while concentrating on the patient before them.

In one incident, the officer said a man threatened to kill him.

"He was verbalising that he wanted to stab me - he wanted to kill me.

"And often, you won't see the danger coming.''

The video then cuts away to footage of a man lunging at an ambulance officer helping a person on the ground.

Just seconds before, the man is seen standing nearby, looking around and acting seemingly normal.

"I can't save you if I'm having to save myself,'' the officer says.

The video ends telling people to: "Please, hands off our ambos.''

In the last year, ambulance officers had been physically assaulted - kicked, punched, spat at - and verbally abused nearly 3000 times, St John said.

There were about 10 incidents a month that were so serious, staff had to be hospitalised and required ongoing medical treatment.

In one attack, a paramedic had a bow and arrow pointed to their head.

Another officer had a knife held to them and was told that if the patient he was dealing with died, so would he.

Paramedic Roger Blume said: "It's pretty hard to concentrate in those circumstances.

"One patient attacked me, bit me and spat blood into my mouth.''

St John chief executive Peter Bradley said ambulance officers had simply had enough.

"We simply won't enter a dangerous scene. We will retreat and your mate or loved one won't get the treatment they need while our personal safety is at risk,'' he said.

"Ambulance officers are caring, non-judgemental professionals there to help but we ask the public to respect our profession."

The Stats:

• Nearly 3000 crew abuse incidents were reported in the last year 1 Dec 2015 - 30 Nov 2016 NB 2,695 incidents were reported but not all crew abuse incidents were captured pre-March 2015 because St John was transiting to electronic reporting.

-Approx. 70% or 2000 crew abuse incidents were verbal.

-Nearly 30% of incidents involved some form of physical and verbal abuse (while 6% of incidents involved just physical abuse).

-Of the approx 65 physical assaults reported per month 6-10 are very serious.

• 50% of all crew abuse incidents involved alcohol or recreational drug abuse.

• 15% of abuse incidents relate to patients with mental health issues.

• Most incidents (37%) of abuse occur during the weekend - Friday 12pm-Sunday 11.59am.

• Most incidents of abuse and assault occur in Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton and the metropolitan areas.

• However rural and remote communities also involve risks (including more single crewing). The profile of the risk changes and the likelihood is lower but the consequences are higher.