As another year comes to an end and New Zealanders make the most of the summer break, St John is reminding everyone to stay safe and look out for their whānau, friends and neighbours.

The Christmas season is the busiest time of the year for St John ambulance teams, who respond to many car crashes and water incidents which could have been avoided by taking care on the road and in the water.

Last year, St John responded to over 1,000 emergency incidents on Christmas Day across the country, with the most common being falls or back injuries, unconscious people and breathing problems.

St John deputy chief executive of ambulance operations Dan Ohs said it’s important to take care of whānau, friends, and people in our communities during this time.

“The festive season can be a difficult time for people with financial problems or those who live alone. We’ve noticed an increase in patients presenting with mental health problems around this time, so please check on those who are vulnerable,” he said. 

“Our ambulance staff also face an increase in workload this time of year, and while we are prepared for summer – there is some uncertainty as to what impact Covid-19 will have, as people reconnect and travel – and what impact that will have on emergency incident volumes.”

Dan said St John paramedics will respond as soon as possible to life-threatening and time critical emergencies, but if someone’s condition is not urgent there may be a delay in getting an ambulance and he asked for patience.

St John offered these tips:

• Drive to the conditions, be patient, eliminate distractions and ensure everyone wears a safety belt in the car.
• If you venture to another part of the country, familiarise yourself with your location before you set off. Know your exact address in case you need to call for help.
• Find out where the closest hospital or medical centre is and be aware that you may have to travel a long way to access medical help in rural or remote areas.
• Take care around water, please wear life jackets when boating and supervise children at the beach or swimming pool.
• Be sun smart - slip, slop, slap, and wrap.
• A pre-existing medical condition can quickly become an emergency if regular medicine isn’t available. Remember to stock up on your prescriptions before going on holiday.
• St John frontline ambulance teams all too often attend incidents caused by too much alcohol. Drink responsibly this summer.
• Make sure little ones are not playing near the barbeque and that older children are playing safely. 
• Remember to keep batteries from Christmas gifts away from children to avoid swallowing. The battery can become lodged in the oesophagus with dangerous results. 
• Be prepared by travelling with a St John first aid kit and download the free St John CPR app here.

Free health advice is available from registered nurses, 24/7 through the Healthline number, 0800 611 116. Always call 111 in an emergency.

PHOTO: Supplied