Blackpool, UK: Mad Friday and congestion in 999: "Can I have an ambulance please...I’m getting drunk"
Revellers have been urged to have a safe and trouble-free ‘Mad Friday’
Today is the last Friday before Christmas Day, and it has previously been dubbed ‘Mad Friday’ due to an increase in 999 calls to the ambulance service through drunken behaviour.
Last Christmas we received a call from a party-goer, knowing full well he was going out drinking, requesting an ambulance to be put on standby for later that the night
The North West Ambulance Service is calling on party-goers to drink responsibly while enjoying themselves and to think before they dial 999, only calling on the ambulance service for life-threatening incidents.
Last year the service saw a 12.5 per cent rise in overall calls and a 20 per cent rise in life-threatening ‘red’ calls on Mad Friday compared to the previous year.
Last Christmas, the Trust received a range of calls due to drunken incidents which they say could have been prevented if sensible precautions and actions were taken by individuals.
NWAS director of operations, Derek Cartwright explains: “The rise in activity we are seeing throughout 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.
“Last Christmas we received a call from a party-goer, knowing full well he was going out drinking, requesting an ambulance to be put on standby for later that the night. This is the kind of behaviour and expectations which must change.”
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