title: Effects of international football matches on ambulance call profiles and volumes during the 2006 World Cup.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prompt ambulance attendance is aimed at improving patient care. With finite resources struggling to meet performance targets, unforeseen demand precludes the ability to tailor resources to cope with increased call volumes, and can have a marked detrimental effect on performance and hence patient care. The effects of the 2006 World Cup football matches on call volumes and profiles were analysed to understand how public events can influence demands on the ambulance service.
  
  
  METHODS
  All emergency calls to the Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (currently the Hampshire Division of South Central Ambulance Service, Winchester, UK) during the first weekend of the 2006 World Cup football matches were analysed by call volume and classification of call (call type).
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the day of the first football match, call volume was over 50% higher than that on a typical Saturday, with distinct peaks before and after the inaugural match. Call profile analysis showed increases in alcohol-related emergencies, including collapse, unconsciousness, assault and road traffic accidents. The increase in assaults was particularly marked at the end of each match and increased again into the late evening.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A detailed mapping of call volumes and profiles during the World Cup football shows a significant increase in overall emergency calls, mostly alcohol related. Mapping of limited resources to these patterns will allow improved responses to emergency calls.
authors.affiliation: South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Highcroft, Romsey Road, Winchester SO22 5DH, UK. charlesdeakin@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Deakin
authors.forename: Fizz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Green
mesh_terms: D000552:Ambulances / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015984:Causality; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D012916:Soccer; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data