Mosh pits at Download Festival result in numerous emergency calls

Rock music enthusiasts from all over are gearing up for a wild weekend at Download Festival, set to take place at Donington Park. However, attendees are being advised to take precautions with their wearable tech to avoid accidental 999 calls that cause unnecessary disruptions for emergency services.

During a typical weekend, Leicestershire Police receives around 600 emergency calls and an additional 800 calls to their non-emergency line, 101. However, when the rock festival descends upon Donington Park, these numbers can skyrocket by nearly 700 calls. This surge is largely due to devices like smart watches assuming a collision has occurred in the rowdy mosh pit environments.

The influx of “significant increase” in calls places a strain on call handlers and can draw resources away from genuine emergencies, according to the police force. Festival-goers are being urged to activate airplane mode on their devices before diving into the mosh pits, hoping to mitigate the problem.

Every 999 call must be thoroughly evaluated, which means that individuals who inadvertently make unwarranted emergency calls are requested to stay on the line to verify their safety. This process of assessing calls, which involves three call attempts to confirm no threat or harm, diverts attention away from legitimate emergency situations, contributing to delays in responding to those in need.

As the gates to the festival campgrounds opened on Wednesday, the countdown to the much-anticipated event began. With headlining acts like Green Day, Sleep Token, and Korn, the festival is expected to draw in approximately 75,000 rock music enthusiasts over the course of the weekend.

In light of these developments, festival organizers and local authorities are working together to ensure a smooth and safe experience for all attendees. By spreading awareness about the potential issue of accidental emergency calls from wearable tech, they hope to prevent unnecessary disruptions and alleviate the strain on emergency services during the festival weekend.

As attendees gear up for an unforgettable weekend of music and celebration, taking simple precautions such as activating airplane mode on their wearable devices can go a long way in ensuring a hassle-free experience for everyone involved. Let’s rock on responsibly at Download Festival this weekend!