North West Ambulance Service urges partygoers to stay safe this New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve sees an increase in emergency calls, often related to alcohol
The North West Ambulance Service is urging people in Greater Manchester to take extra care when celebrating this New Year's Eve, as emergency calls traditionally spike during the night.
Paramedic Luke Marriner explained that alcohol consumption can lead to a range of avoidable emergencies.
“The main thing is just making sure when you’re out that you’re drinking responsibly, are you able to get home, are you dressed appropriately for the weather, that you look after your friends when you’re out and about," Marriner said.
He added that the service tends to receive “a wide variety of calls through both 111 and 999 services” around New Year's Eve, with alcohol- and drug-related incidents claiming much of their attention.
“These kinds of calls can often be avoided by people just looking after themselves a little bit more when they go out for a drink,” Marriner said.
New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year for emergency services, with paramedics attending to situations that could easily be prevented by careful planning and responsible behaviour.