FULL MOON
Is it me or does the presence of a full moon really make our job a nightmare at the weekend?
I have to be honest I don’t keep up to date with the cycle of the sun and moon, in short I have no idea if there is a full moon. Unless that is I happen to see it on a clear night or all hell breaks loose during a late or night shift at the weekend, or even a week night come to that.
How many times have you had one of those shifts where one domestic after another comes in, followed by suicidal person trying to do themselves in. And they are not the usual crappy job, but the full on serious stuff, you know the ones that take up all available resources (2 double crewed cars).
It’s only after a few of these domestics that all came on the screen within 2 minutes of each other, followed by 3 or 4 fights in the town coming in and to top it off with a few nutters at the hospital going ballistic, that I am forced to look to the moon and with that feeling of dread see a FULL MOON.
What about the resource department working out team strengths based on the cycle of the moon? Is there any evidence to link an increase in crime and disorder with the lunar cycle?
December 10, 2006 at 5:52 pm
yes the full moon was on 5/12/06. last tuesday.
new moon on wednesday 20/12/06.
we have a calender that tells you the dates of the full moon, new moon,etc. My hobby is astromony.
Anyway, you ask any doctors and nurses if they think their hospitals get busier on those nights. I bet they will say yes it does.
Halloween is the worse night of all.
Mind you, I go out that night myself…………
December 10, 2006 at 6:08 pm
I have always ended up busier and with a really odd sort of job too, on a full moon. I have one mate who openly admits to getting hairier on these days too.
Thats really scary !
December 10, 2006 at 6:25 pm
I used to be a werewolf but I’m alright nooowwwww! Sorry, couldn’t resist.
December 10, 2006 at 8:33 pm
Home Office Answer
Yes, yes, but is the full moon providing the correct light to size ratio? are the moon beams shedding best value particles of white light? is the moon providing a workable, partnership based solution to the problems of the space around it – blah, blah, blah ad infinitum
December 10, 2006 at 9:43 pm
My friend used to work in an acute psychiatric unit and they would double-staff when it was a full moon because it was always, well, mental, only more so.
December 11, 2006 at 4:35 am
I know someone with anger management issues. He’s noticeably worse on a full moon. We try not to agitate him then.
The cats go slightly more mental than usual, too. The fights become more frequent and vocal.
December 11, 2006 at 10:16 am
well whether you can prove it or not there is definitely a feeling in my part of the world that a full moon means bad news! Perhaps a police myth. But there is certainly some coincidence in it I reckon
December 11, 2006 at 9:19 pm
I get more 136’s (mental health detainees – not prisoners oh no no no!!) through my doors during the moons full phase than normal times. I can usually expect a few more scraps with the prisoners!!
December 12, 2006 at 11:01 am
I agree, the full moon is definitely a major factor. I reckon a high wind does it as well – working in a seaside town we get a lot of it (and in my office too thanks to my diet)
You also get that ‘feeling’ when the town’s going to be rough. You just know. I’m off to mind-meld with the cat now
December 12, 2006 at 11:42 am
Well a full moon does provide extra light. What’s this blah blah business Gadget? The Home Office bods don’t speak like that. It’s more like, ” Of course we can deliver, yes we can deliver, we have the right numbers, of course we can deliver, sure we can deliver.” Even Cameron, I think, is a part of the Home Office, of course we will deliver, blah blah my foot!
December 12, 2006 at 3:12 pm
The moons gravity controls the oceans tides, the human brain has a very high percentage water content. any coincidence there????
December 12, 2006 at 10:22 pm
Well, in the acute psychiatric wards, we always dread the full moon as it always means we’re busy decking and injecting the poor buggers. By the way I object to the use of that word “nutter.” Haven’t you heard of political correctness? Window licker is far more appropriate…
February 3, 2007 at 6:31 am
Sorry to add the obvious to this debate, but how do you think LUNAtics got their name? I am in no doubt that the pull of the moon, particularly at it’s fullest affects us all. Definite disrupted sleep patterns in our house at this time and you don’t have to be crazy to be affected – but you could end up that way!
March 4, 2007 at 7:07 am
I found this study which concludes that the cycle of the moon has a small, yet statistically significant, impact on general practice visits…
http://fampra.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/17/6/472
July 3, 2007 at 12:46 pm
i hav 2 cats and we hav had about 5 nights of full moons and 1 of my cats attacked me and then 2 nights after attacked my mum
November 14, 2007 at 8:43 pm
[...] The freaks come out at night – and during the full moon. [...]