Football fans across England have been warned of the dangers of drinking all day in the sun as they enjoy the World Cup by London Ambulance Service.
A combination of too much alcohol and sunny weather can mean an increase in 999 calls, particularly following England’s big games. When England played the USA in the 2010 World Cup, for example, call volume to the service’s switchboard increased by 37% immediately after the final whistle.
Deputy Director of Operations Paul Gates said:
“We know that big football tournaments make things busy for us, and our control room is expecting a high number of calls given the matches are in the evening.
“We hope that everyone will have a memorable summer of football but you won’t end up in an ambulance because of too much alcohol.
“There are some easy steps you can take to have a great night, for example pace your drinking, have a meal before going out and have tactical soft drinks. If it’s hot, stay out of the sun during the midday heat and avoid drinking alcohol.
“If football fans need medical help, there is a range of options available, including urgent care centres, walk-in centres, NHS 111, chemists or you can make your own way to hospital.”