The Welsh Ambulance Service revealed some of the most “inappropriate” calls that came in to its 999 emergency number last year, including someone whose pet alligator was under their couch. Photo by AKuptsova/Pixabay.com
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The Welsh Ambulance Service said some of the most “inappropriate” calls to its 999 emergency number in the past year include a finger stuck in a beer bottle and a person whose pet alligator got loose.
The organization said in a news release that 426,116 calls came in during 2024, and of those 63,836 — about 15% — were determined to not be life or death emergencies. Advertisement
“I got my finger stuck in a beer bottle and it will not come out,” one 999 caller told dispatchers.
Another caller reported they had chipped a tooth, and another was unable to remove a tight bracelet.
One caller reported a problem with their pet alligator: “It’s got loose and I’m scared to death. I don’t like it. I do not like it. I think it’s under the sofa.”
Another caller said they were calling out of an abundance of caution.
“I stuck my finger in a plug socket, and I felt no effect but I’m ruling out if I electrocuted myself,” they said.
One caller reported the cotton from the end of a swab was stuck in someone’s ear, and one caller said they were locked outside their house. Advertisement
“I’ve just got a question, a general question, mate. My GP refuses to give me sleeping pills. How do I get hold of sleeping pills to sleep?” another caller asked.
The ambulance service stressed the 999 number is for health emergencies only.
“Our emergency ambulance service exists for those whose life is in imminent danger,” said Andy Swinburn, executive director of Paramedicine. “That’s people in cardiac arrest, those with chest pain or breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, choking, severe allergic reactions, catastrophic bleeding or someone having a stroke.”
“Most people know the difference between an emergency and something that is just uncomfortable or irritating, but not life-threatening, so if you don’t need that time-critical intervention, it’s really important to apply common sense and make the right call,” Swinburn said.
