As people look forward to Christmas gatherings, New Year’s Eve parties and summer festivals, Hato Hone St John is urging everyone to prioritise their safety.
The emergency ambulance service has faced sustained high demand throughout the year, and crews across Aotearoa New Zealand are currently gearing up for another busy Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve - peak periods where staff prepare for an increase in demand.
“This season is all about spending time with whānau and friends so it’s important to take safety seriously, so everyone can have a good time,” says Stu Cockburn, Hato Hone St John General Manager – Ambulance Operations.
Hato Hone St John is also asking the public to treat their crews with respect.
“Unfortunately, during the festive season, our people see an increase in violent and threatening behaviour towards them. This is completely unacceptable. If our ambulance personnel don’t feel safe, we empower them to leave the scene.
“So, as well as looking out for whānau, friends and neighbours, please look out for our ambulance officers too. Our people are out there working long hours through the heat and crowds, to keep communities safe. Please be kind and treat them with respect.”
Hato Hone St John attended almost 1,500 incidents nationwide last Christmas Day, many involving falls, intoxication, abdominal pain and minor injuries or illnesses.
New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest nights for the ambulance service, with frontline crews responding to 570 incidents between 10pm New Years Eve 2024 and 6am 1 January 2025, many involving alcohol, assaults, and falls.
“The last place anyone wants to spend Christmas or New Year’s Eve is in the back of an ambulance because they’ve fallen off the ladder while adjusting the Christmas lights, burnt themselves on the BBQ, or drank more than they can tolerate, so we are reminding everyone to please take extra care,” says Mr Cockburn.
“A great volume of incidents our ambulance crews respond to are preventable. If you’re drinking, our advice is to eat beforehand, pace yourself, only accept drinks you have seen being poured, sort a sober driver in advance, and look out for your mates.”
Hato Hone St John’s festive season advice also includes good food handling hygiene, using utensils with long handles when barbecuing, keeping small batteries out of reach of young children and knowing basic first aid if someone is injured.
“If someone gets burnt, run cool water over the area straight away for a least twenty minutes then cover the burn with cling film or a clean, non-stick dressing,” says Mr Cockburn.
Throughout summer, thousands of people attend music festivals across the country but every year, ambulance staff treat people who have spent more time in the medical tent than watching their favourite artists because they were unprepared for the conditions.
Hato Hone St John reminds festivalgoers when they are out in the sun to apply sunscreen SPF 30 or higher, reapplying every two hours, wear a hat and sunscreen, and keep hydrated.
Each year during the holiday season, paramedics care for people who have become seriously unwell after taking recreational drugs, sometimes without knowing what they have consumed.
“Hato Hone St John does not endorse drug taking. The safest option is not to take them at all, but we know some people will, and we want them to be able to make informed decisions about what they are ingesting,” says Mr Cockburn.
“Substances can be mixed or unexpectedly strong, which can be extremely dangerous, so we recommend using drug-checking services which are offered at many festivals.
“If you find yourself needing help from our ambulance teams, please be honest with them if you have taken drugs; they are there to look after you, not judge you. Telling us what you have taken will help us treat you faster and more effectively.”
Hato Hone St John is reminding the public to save 111 for life-threatening emergencies and consider alternative options for non-urgent issues such as calling Healthline, contacting the 24/7 online GP service, or visiting a local GP or pharmacy.
Hato Hone St John wishes everyone a safe and happy festive season.
Notes to the editor: Stu Cockburn’s surname is pronounced KOH-burn.
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Along with the emergency ambulance service, Hato Hone St John operates a significant number of community health programmes and other activities which help build community resilience. They include Waka Ora Health Shuttles, ASB Caring Caller, St John Youth, and St John in Schools.
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Hato Hone St John also delivers event health services, medical alarm services, first aid training, and operates retail stores across the country.
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Hato Hone St John media team