Don't get too drunk during England game, beg Ambulance chiefs - as France 'bans alcohol' due to overwhelmed health services

Ambulance staff have urged England fans to drink responsibly this weekend - after a surge in callouts after the Three Lions faced Ghana on Tuesday.

Statistics released by the London Ambulance Service - the largest fleet in the country - reveal a 50 per cent surge in 999 calls and an increase in alcohol-related assaults after the national team's last match.

In general, major international tournaments cause a spike in 999 calls, especially during heatwaves and on weekends, as supporters head to fan zones and pubs.

And with the UK currently sweating its way through the hottest June on record, it's prompted one ambulance chief to issue a plea for fans to drink 'responsibly, pace yourself and stay hydrated.'

Director of Ambulance Operations Darren Farmer said: 'We know from experience that a combination of excitement, tension, alcohol and warm weather can lead to avoidable ambulance callouts.

'Interestingly, the draw against Ghana coincided with a bigger increase in demand than our win against Croatia, so although we know it will be a tense game, we would urge people to behave responsibly.

'You want to end your night winning and not in the back of an ambulance.'

And unfortunately, it's not only fans who risk injury when England kick off, ambulance crews often face abuse and violence when dealing with patients who are drunk or under the influence of illegal drugs.

'When cheering on England, please respect the ambulance workers and call handlers that are on the frontline, working tirelessly to save lives,' said Farmer.

'We do not tolerate violence, threats or harassment towards our staff and will pursue prosecutions against those who harm us.'

Britons are also reminded to use emergency services correctly. For non-emergency medical advice, people should consider NHS 111 online, a local pharmacy or their GP.

People should only call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured and their life is at risk.

Every avoidable 999 call puts additional pressure on ambulance crews and could delay reaching patients who are seriously ill or injured.

The hot weather - with temperatures reaching 36C this week in parts of the UK - has also prompted a surge in the number of A&E visits as elderly patients struggle to stay cool.

Several trusts have declared critical incidents as a result, with three revealing that key pieces of diagnostic and life-saving equipment had malfunctioned or gone offline due to the heat.

The heat has broken records in Britain, France, Spain and Switzerland and the Netherlands has issued its first-ever red alert due to high temperatures.

In Germany, where temperatures were expected to hit 40C through the weekend, several outdoor events were cancelled and the rail operator advised avoiding travel.

With French hospitals overwhelmed, authorities took the rarely used step of banning evening alcohol sales and public consumption in Paris in a bid to protect its own stretched health services.

The ban on drinking alcohol in public began at noon today and runs until 7am Saturday. The ban will run during the same hours from Saturday to Sunday.

Takeaway alcohol sales are banned from 6pm Friday until 7am Saturday, and also repeated from Saturday to Sunday. Bars and restaurants will be exempt.

Like in the UK, French health services reported a surge in emergency calls and visits as the merciless heat struck the elderly and the ill.

'We are reaching a saturation point in hospital facilities,' Paris police chief Patrice Faure said. 'The number of hospitalisations keeps increasing.'

France saw a fourfold increase in emergency room visits for heat-related reasons and a surge of cardiac arrests, authorities said.