Schoolies urged to look after their mates as thousands flock to the Gold Coast

Shae McDonald
Nov 18, 2017, updated Nov 18, 2017

Police, emergency services, volunteers and security guards will be out in force during the three-week end-of-school celebrations. Photo: AAP

Partying Year 12 graduates are being urged to stay safe and look after their mates as Schoolies officially gets under way on the Gold Coast on Saturday.

About 22,000 students are expected to arrive on the Glitter Strip this weekend after more than 53,000 Queenslanders graduated from Year 12 on Friday.

The Queensland Ambulance Service’s Justin Payne said the demand for services was 19 per cent higher than normal during last year’s Schoolies.

The Gold Coast’s senior operations supervisor urged people to follow some simple but life-saving tips during an emergency.

“If someone’s had too much to drink, overdosed on drugs, or has been injured, stay with them and call for help by phoning triple zero,” he said in a statement.

“If someone is unconscious, make sure they are rolled onto their side and their airway is clear so that they can breathe properly.”

Mr Payne said the QAS wanted schoolies to call Triple Zero if they believed they or their friends were in trouble and also download the Emergency+ app in case they need to call for help.

“This free app gives co-ordinates from the phone’s GPS, which can be provided to the emergency dispatcher to pinpoint the patient’s exact location,” he said.

QAS is also providing CPR demonstrations at the wristband distribution centre, at the Cypress Ave carpark from 11am on Saturday.