Britain’s emergency services are bracing themselves for a spike in alcohol-related injuries as office parties and festive overindulgence gear up for “Mad Friday”.
Extra staff being drafted in to popular drinking areas in London, Cardiff and Birmingham to cope with what is fast becoming the peak of the Christmas period for alcohol-related call-outs.
Ambulance services across the rest of the country are also preparing themselves for the restive fall-out, which, coupled with the snow and slippery pavements, could prove to be a very long night indeed.
Extra police are being drafted in for celebrations in Manchester tonight and Birmingham city centre is setting up mobile treatment units.
London Ambulance will run mobile treatment centres in the West End and near Liverpool Street known as “booze buses” to pick up festive passengers throughout the night.
Last week paramedic Brian Hayes blogged about his experiences on board the specially-adapted ambulances.
He said: “People should go out and have a good time, but by working on the ‘booze bus’, I see on a regular basis how people put themselves at risk and the state they end up in.”
He added: ‘There are a number of things that people can do to help themselves, including eating before going out, having the odd soft drink, looking after your friends and planning your journey home.”