The red cross patch on his uniform used to protect Brad Johnson, but the Queensland paramedic says that's no longer the case.
Mr Johnson said he felt lucky to walk away with all his teeth, nose intact and being able to see out of his right eye after he was allegedly attacked by a patient on the Gold Coast in December 2015.
The assault on Mr Johnson and the rising number of attacks on Queensland healthcare workers has prompted a $1.35 million campaign to stop violence against hospital staff and paramedics.
But Mr Johnson says the confronting ads depict a "sanitised" version of what workers face every day.
"There was a time when a red cross on your arm would protect you. Sadly, that's not the case any more," he said.
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"If we're fighting for our life, how can we fight for the patient's?"
Brisbane-based paramedic Julz Raven has been assaulted twice at work.
Five years ago, she was bitten by a HIV and hepatitis C positive woman, who was sentenced to one year in jail.
In the most recent incident, Ms Raven was left with black eyes after she was allegedly punched in the face and scratched.
"This uniform doesn't protect me at all. In fact, the way I felt after my assault was this uniform kind of allowed someone to use me as a punching bag," Ms Raven said.
Royal Brisbane Hospital emergency department nurse Lita Olsson said many assaults went unreported because detailing them took too long and meant less time helping patients.
Ms Olsson said the 324 recorded incidents at Royal Brisbane's emergency department in 2016 was just "the tip of the iceberg".
A person found guilty of assaulting a healthcare worker can receive up to 14 years in prison.
