WEST Midlands Ambulance Service are urging people to stay safe this festive period by drinking sensibly.
Asking whether one more drink is really worth it, WMAS are advising drinkers to have a safe Christmas night out with tips such as, eating to help the absorption of alcohol, pacing drinks, never leaving drinks unattended and to stick together with friends.
They have also said that when catching a taxi home, to make sure it’s a licensed black cab from an official taxi rank.
General Manager for West Midlands Ambulance Service, Nathan Hudson, said: “Every year over the festive period the ambulance service gets called to a large number of cases where people of all ages have had far too much to drink.
“Drinking causes people to do things they definitely wouldn’t do if they were more sober.
“The knock on effect of this is that our highly trained medical staff are having to baby sit fully grown adults who don’t know when they have had enough alcohol. These staff should be available to treat people who have suffered a life threatening emergencies.”
He added: “Whilst we do not wish to spoil people’s fun, we would just ask people to be sensible and take responsibility for themselves and their own actions when they are out celebrating this year. What if an ambulance crew that was dealing with you vomiting on yourself lying in the street, wasn’t then available to treat your family member who needed lifesaving treatment?
“We are quite sure you would be devastated that your irresponsible actions have directly had a negative impact on your loved ones chance of survival, your Christmas probably wouldn’t be quite so merry.”
