About 28 ambulance call-outs during Halloween night in Canberra
Canberra ambulance responded to 28 incidents on Halloween night, four times the normal Saturday rate.
Halloween night in Canberra's city centre saw a spike in medical emergencies. Ambulance crews responded to about 28 incidents between 5pm and 5am.
On a typical Saturday, there are two to ten call-outs. Halloween night had triple to quadruple that amount.
Street teams dealt with at least 25 unconscious, injured or sick people. Police responded to 38 separate incidents in the same period.
Using several different substances was common, including at least one cardiac arrest from a suspected MDMA overdose. Volunteers also treated accidental injuries from drunk falls and self-harm.
Why it mattersEmergency services were stretched far beyond normal capacity. The surge shows how a single event can overwhelm local ambulance and police resources.
AustraliaCanberra ambulance and police resources were heavily taxed. The spike highlights the need for planning around major social events.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 5 h ago
