New Year's Eve will be particularly busy for SOS Alarm, with a sharp rise in calls to the emergency line 112. The number of alarms doubles just before midnight and triples in parts of the country at the stroke of twelve. About one third of the calls are deemed unnecessary, potentially delaying aid for those who truly need it.
SOS Alarm is gearing up for an intense New Year's night, following the pattern of previous years. According to Douglas Norström, acting press chief at SOS Alarm, the trend remains consistent annually. “It looks the same every year. An hour before midnight, the number of calls we receive doubles, and at midnight, in parts of the country, it's a tripling compared to a normal weekend,” he states in a press release.
On a typical weekend evening, around 3,200 calls are handled to 112. On New Year's Eve and into the night, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., the figure is expected to reach about 8,000 calls. Of these, one third are assessed as false alarms from people who do not require urgent assistance.
Norström emphasizes the importance of calling 112 only in genuine emergencies. “All calls end up in the same queue, which means a call about a spraying faucet or loud neighbors can steal time from someone with a heart attack,” he warns. This highlights the challenges for emergency centers during holidays like New Year's, when fireworks and parties often prompt unnecessary calls. SOS Alarm urges the public to exercise restraint to ensure resources reach those in real danger.
