Most bizarre 999 calls revealed by Welsh Ambulance Service

Eating too much kebab, losing false teeth and getting a hand stuck in a letterbox - these are some of the most bizarre calls made to 999 in Wales over the past year.

Of the 414,149 the Welsh Ambulance Service received, 68,416 were not a life-or-death emergency - an average of 188 calls a day.

The ambulance service said the calls "put additional strain" on services.

It reminded people to only call 999 if someone is seriously ill or injured.

The trust has released the transcripts of some of the most inappropriate calls received by its call handlers.

Operator: Tell me exactly what's happened.

Caller: Yesterday evening, we had some kebab, and I might have had a little bit more than I'm used to, then this morning, I've had a very painful stomach.

Operator: Is the patient awake?

Caller: Yeah, it's me, my hand's stuck in the door.

Operator: Is the door locked at the moment?

Caller: Yeah, it's locked. Mam! No, my hand's stuck in the letterbox.

Operator: How old are you?

Caller: Open the door, my hand's stuck!

Caller: I have a bottom part denture, and I went to clean my teeth and I said, 'Where's my false teeth?' This sounds crazy… but I don't know what else to do. Could I have swallowed my false teeth?

Operator: So, you don't know where your false teeth are?

Operator: "Ambulance, what's the address of the emergency?"

Caller: "Hi, yeah, erm… I know it doesn't 100% qualify as this but my wife must have accidentally rubbed chilli in her eyes and her eyes are burning.

"She's tried washing them and nothing's happening."

Andy Swinburn, executive director of paramedicine, said inappropriate 999 calls put additional strain "on an already over-stretched service" and said they could "delay help for others".

"Our highly skilled paramedics and technicians are trained to help those whose life is in imminent danger," he added.

"That's people in cardiac arrest, people with chest pain or breathing difficulties, loss of consciousness, choking, severe allergic reactions, catastrophic bleeding or someone who is having a stroke.

"People who've had a cough for a couple of days have a legitimate clinical need, but it's ill-judged to call 999 when there are so many other ways to access help.

"Our plea to the public is to apply your common sense - most people know the difference between a real emergency and something that is uncomfortable, painful or irritating but not life-threatening.

"Make the right call."