Senior paramedics are urging fans to enjoy the final group game safely
Football supporters are being advised to celebrate the World Cup sensibly as England prepare to face Panama in their final group stage fixture on Saturday (June 27). With Panama already eliminated from the tournament following a narrow 1-0 defeat to Croatia, the game is widely expected to favour England heavily.
Senior paramedics at London Ambulance Service are nevertheless urging supporters to take additional care, warning that the upcoming match presents a triple threat of factors known to trigger medical emergencies and 999 calls, with the high-profile international fixture falling on a weekend during a period of scorching temperatures.
Director of Ambulance Operations Darren Farmer said: “You want to end your night winning and not in the back of an ambulance.”
Fans planning to drink alcohol during the match on Saturday have been urged to:
- Drink responsibly
- Pace yourself
- Stay hydrated
Darren added: “We know from experience that a combination of excitement, tension, alcohol and warm weather can lead to avoidable ambulance callouts.
“Interestingly, the draw against Ghana coincided with a bigger increase in demand than our win against Croatia, so although we know it will be a tense game, we would urge people to behave responsibly.”
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 in reaching patients who are seriously ill or injured. Ambulance crews have already faced a hectic week dealing with scorching temperatures across the capital.
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 dialling 999. However, if someone is seriously ill or injured, or there is a threat to life, people are encouraged to call 999 immediately.
Major international tournaments typically trigger a surge in 999 calls as supporters gather in fan zones and pubs. During England’s last match against Ghana, the London Ambulance Service recorded a striking 50% rise in 999 calls for alcohol-related assaults.
The service revealed that 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.
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.”
