The statistics are staggering. According to a poll by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) nearly 85% of emergency physicians believe the rate of violence experienced in emergency departments has increased over the past five years.

That’s why ACEP and ENA are partnering on “No Silence on ED Violence,” a  campaign to stop these attacks and protect emergency department (ED) professionals and patients. This joint effort aims to support, empower and protect those working in our nation’s emergency departments by raising awareness of the serious dangers emergency health providers face every day, and by generating action among stakeholders and policymakers to ensure a violence-free workplace for emergency nurses and physicians.

The frequency of violent attacks on nurses, physicians and patients in our nation’s emergency departments is unconscionable and unacceptable. For medical professionals, being assaulted in the emergency department—a place intended for care and healing—must no longer be tolerated as “part of the job.”

Through No Silence on ED Violence, ACEP and ENA aim to drastically reduce emergency department violence and allow emergency physicians and nurses to able to focus on providing lifesaving treatment without living in constant fear for their safety.

Join the conversation and share your stories on social media by using #StopEDViolence on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.