The London Ambulance Service has issued a health alert for football supporters planning to watch England's World Cup group stage match against Panama on Saturday, June 27. Senior paramedics are urging fans to celebrate responsibly, citing a triple threat of factors that typically trigger medical emergencies and a surge in 999 calls.
Triple threat: weekend, heatwave, and alcohol
England faces Panama in their final group stage fixture, a match widely expected to favor England heavily after Panama's elimination following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Croatia. However, the high-profile international fixture falls on a weekend during a period of scorching temperatures, combining excitement, tension, alcohol, and warm weather. Darren Farmer, Director of Ambulance Operations at London Ambulance Service, warned: "You want to end your night winning and not in the back of an ambulance."
Advice for fans
Fans planning to drink alcohol during the match are urged to drink responsibly, pace themselves, and stay hydrated. Farmer added: "We know from experience that a combination of excitement, tension, alcohol and warm weather can lead to avoidable ambulance callouts." He noted that the draw against Ghana coincided with a bigger increase in demand than the win against Croatia, urging people to behave responsibly despite the tension.
Impact on ambulance service
London Ambulance Service cautioned that every unnecessary call places further strain on the service, piling undue pressure on ambulance crews and potentially causing critical delays for seriously ill or injured patients. Ambulance crews have already faced a hectic week dealing with scorching temperatures across the capital. During England's last match against Ghana, the service recorded a 50% rise in 999 calls for alcohol-related assaults. Drugs and alcohol are a contributing factor in roughly 40% of violent incidents, with ambulance crews frequently facing abuse during periods of heightened alcohol consumption.
Use NHS services appropriately
Teams will be on standby throughout the tournament, but have urged Londoners to use NHS services appropriately. This means turning to NHS 111 online, a local pharmacy, or their GP for non-urgent medical advice rather than dialing 999. However, if someone is seriously ill or injured, or there is a threat to life, people are encouraged to call 999 immediately.
Respect frontline workers
Darren added: "When cheering on England, please respect the ambulance workers and call handlers that are on the frontline, working tirelessly to save lives. We do not tolerate violence, threats or harassment towards our staff and will pursue prosecutions against those who harm us."
