Emergency Services News
DONATE
No Result
View All Result
  • Police
  • Body-Worn Camera Footage
  • National Crime Agency
  • Police Pursuits
  • Police Dogs In Action
  • Court Results
  • Ambulance
  • Fire Service
  • NHS
  • Assaulted on Duty
  • Must See Videos
  • Guest Blog
  • Hoax Calls
  • Rewards & Discounts
  • About ESN
  • Contact
Emergency Services News
No Result
View All Result

Ambulance Service Plea To Parents During The Summer Holidays: Stop Your Children From Making Prank 999 Calls!

by John Johnson
13 August 2018
in Ambulance Service, Blogs, Emergency Services News, Firefighting, Police Service
3 min read
0
Ambulance Service Plea To Parents During The Summer Holidays: Stop Your Children From Making Prank 999 Calls!
5
SHARES
237
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

  by Cop(ex) | @ES_Humour  | About Us | Contact Us

We all know that it can be hard to keep your children entertained and occupied during the extended epic 6-week summer holidays.

Even those of you who do not have children will probably remember how hard it was to try and keep yourself entertained when on the summer school holidays.

However, it would seem that some children have taken to prank calling 999 in order to keep themselves ‘entertained’ whilst on the summer break, but in doing so, they end up risking people’s lives.

South West Ambulance Service released a statement about the issue saying on their website saying:

‘Paramedics from South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) are reminding parents to keep an eye on their mobile phones during the school holidays after the service has had a number of unnecessary 999 prank calls from children.

‘The 999 control hubs in the South West have received a number of hoax calls that have resulted in vital emergency resources being sent to peoples’ houses only to find no one there when they arrive.

‘When they rang the caller back they were met with children laughing.

‘This wasted journey meant that the crew were unable to attend genuine patients in need of care. (*NB: Example of a hoax call available)


Social UP

Social Media management, training and consultancy services (public & private sector)

Learn More —> 



‘All emergency calls are recorded and can be traced. SWASFT will prosecute offenders if necessary. Last year, in 2017, 774 hoax calls were made to the ambulance service which distracted paramedics from attending 91 real emergencies.

‘South Western Ambulance Service Chief Executive, Ken Wenman says, “Making hoax calls can put lives at risk.

“We strongly encourage parents to impress upon their children the importance of only dialing 999 in a genuine emergency situation.

“It is vital that people understand and appreciate the consequences associated with making hoax calls. We work with the police and other partners to seek the prosecution of people who abuse the 999 system.”

‘Examples of when to call 999 include choking, chest pain, stroke, serious blood loss and unconsciousness. Using 999 correctly helps our paramedic crews to reach those patients most in need of medical attention.

‘Alternative healthcare options for less serious conditions include; visiting your local pharmacy, visiting a minor injuries unit or NHS walk-in centre, or calling NHS111’

It is bad enough that the emergency services have to cope with adults making unnecessary 999 calls, let alone having to also deal with children making prank 999 calls!

When you sign up to serve in an Emergency Operations Centre, you do so because you want to help save lives – not to deal with needless and prank 999 calls.

Anyone who has had to call 999, only to be put on hold whilst waiting for help in a genuine emergency, will no-doubt confirm how stressful such a situation can be.

Not only do prank 999 calls risk lives, they also clog up the 999 system and in some cases can lead to ‘pranksters’ getting arrested.

Below is a video that was shared by South West Ambulance Service via their YouTube channel, that has some audio recordings of prank 999 calls being made to South West Ambulance Service by some kids.

 



⇓

S&G Man

DON’T FORGET TO SUBSCRIBE to our popular fortnightly satirical eMagazine, ‘S__ts & Giggles’ which contains ALL of the funniest material that we are not allowed to share on social media!

ANYONE can subscribe and it only costs £1-per-month!

CLICK HERE to find out more




⇓⇓

Story

Got a story or video to share, then CLICK HERE to contact our team!




 

Before you go...

We need your help. As former emergency services & armed forces personnel, we pride ourselves on bringing you important, fast-moving and breaking news stories which are free from the negative bias which is often directed at the emergency services by some sections of the mainstream media.

One of the reasons we started 'Emergency Services News' was because we became tired of reading badly informed stories about the emergency services which seemed only ever to highlight negative aspects of the job.

We want to be the unheard voice of the remarkable men and women who serve in the emergency services, NHS and armed forces. And with around 500k page views each month, we are getting there!

As income from ads, the mainstay source of income for most publishers, continues to decline; we need the help of our readers.

And remember, if you have a service, product or job vacancy that you would like to promote to our large readership, then you can buy advertising space in our articles.

You can support emergency services news from as little as £1. It only takes a minute. Every contribution, however big or small, is vital for our future.

Please help us to continue to highlight the life-saving work of the emergency services, NHS and armed forces by becoming a supporter.

SUPPORT EMERGENCY SERVICES NEWS
Share2Tweet1

Related Posts

74 PSNI Officers Injured During A Week Of Violence In Northern Ireland
Emergency Services News

74 PSNI Officers Injured During A Week Of Violence In Northern Ireland

IOPC Finds Met Officers Acted Appropriately During Tottenham Stop & Search After Partial Video Clip Was Shared On Social Media
Police Service

IOPC Finds Met Officers Acted Appropriately During Tottenham Stop & Search After Partial Video Clip Was Shared On Social Media

Male Admits Attempted Murder After Random Meat Cleaver Attack On Two Police Officers
Emergency Services News

Male Admits Attempted Murder After Random Meat Cleaver Attack On Two Police Officers

Drug Dealer Who Rammed Police Before Setting Pit Bull Dog On Them Is Sent To Prison For 3 Years
Emergency Services News

Drug Dealer Who Rammed Police Before Setting Pit Bull Dog On Them Is Sent To Prison For 3 Years

WATCH | Motorist Turns Into Path Of Paramedic During Blue-Light Run
Ambulance Service

WATCH | Motorist Turns Into Path Of Paramedic During Blue-Light Run

Family Pay Tribute To Two-Week Old Baby Killed After A Car Hit His Pram
Emergency Services News

Family Pay Tribute To Two-Week Old Baby Killed After A Car Hit His Pram

Load More

Let us know what you think in the comments below Cancel reply

  • Police
  • Body-Worn Camera Footage
  • National Crime Agency
  • Police Pursuits
  • Police Dogs In Action
  • Court Results
  • Ambulance
  • Fire Service
  • NHS
  • Assaulted on Duty
  • Must See Videos
  • Guest Blog
  • Hoax Calls
  • Rewards & Discounts
  • About ESN
  • Contact
© Emergency Services News
No Result
View All Result
  • Police
  • Body-Worn Camera Footage
  • National Crime Agency
  • Police Pursuits
  • Police Dogs In Action
  • Court Results
  • Ambulance
  • Fire Service
  • NHS
  • Assaulted on Duty
  • Must See Videos
  • Guest Blog
  • Hoax Calls
  • Rewards & Discounts
  • About ESN
  • Contact