Ambulance Service urges people to think before they dial as 999 calls set to soar ahead of festive period

Ambulance Service urges people to think before they dial as 999 calls set to sore ahead of festive period

Ahead of the festive period, the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust (NWAS) is urging party-goers to drink responsibly whilst enjoying themselves and to think before they dial 999, only calling on the ambulance service for life threatening incidents.

The Friday before Christmas – ‘Mad Friday’ as it’s traditionally known - always sees a spike in emergency calls being received by the ambulance service, as people get into the festive spirit and the Christmas party season gets well underway.

NWAS has recently reached its highest ever activity levels with the volume of 999 calls rising to an average of over 4,000 per day, this is expected to be maintained throughout the festive period, particularly on Mad Friday.

NWAS Director of Operations, Derek Cartwright explains: “The rise in activity we are seeing in the North West region is being replicated all across the country, with many services stating that this is the busiest time they have ever experienced.

“In genuine life-threatening emergencies, time matters. So if people stop and think about drink this Christmas and take a sensible approach, they can play their part in helping to ensuring ambulance crews are free to attend to vulnerable and very poorly people.”

999 calls received over the Christmas period in 2013 included a hair bobble being stuck on a finger, a ring stuck on a finger, a sore throat and a call from somebody wanting the Patient Transport Service number. NWAS urges people to keep ambulances free to attend to those with serious life threatening conditions.

Derek added: “It is also important to remember hangovers, headaches and feeling under the weather after a night out can generally be treated in your own home using medicine from your local pharmacist and getting plenty of rest and fluid.”

If you need advice for a health condition but are unsure of where to go for help, call NHS 111 -a free advice service intended for ‘urgent but not life-threatening’ health issues which is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.