Booze-fuelled incidents soar

EMERGENCY calls to North West Ambulance Service soared over Hallowe‘en - making last weekend as busy as New Year’s Eve.

Though calls traditionally rise on October 31, but this year NWAS had an increase of 13 per cent over the previous weekend - including a 20 per cent increase for life-threatening calls.

The service was called to several incidents over the weekend, including assaults in pubs and clubs, stuck contact lenses, broken fingers, a Hallowe‘en costume on fire, vomiting after drinking and someone who fell getting into a late-night taxi. The Trust even answered a 999 call from someone who was choking on a pair of plastic vampire fangs.

Director of Operations, Derek Cartwright said: “We don’t believe this was unique to the North-West but it was disappointing to see so many alcohol and assault-related calls. Our crews were kept extremely busy, tying up resources for those who urgently needed us.”

Mr Cartwright added: “We don’t want to stop people having fun but we only have a finite number of resources.

We are fast approaching the Christmas party season and would like the public to celebrate the festive season responsibly and without injury.”