"Enjoy yourselves sensibly this Christmas," say ambulance service

AMBULANCE bosses have urged festive party-goers to drink responsibly, as they anticipate a surge in alcohol-related 999 calls.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service attended around 2,800 such calls last December alone, according to figures just released.

Last year, Christmas Eve paramedic call-outs included 155 booze-fuelled incidents.

So-called Mad Friday — the last Friday before Christmas — also tends to bring a spike in intoxication and drunken injuries.

Service bosses said they wanted revellers to consider the impact of alcohol-related calls on other ill and injured patients this year.

Stephen Segasby, deputy director of operations, said: “While our crews respond to patients who have had too much to drink or sustained alcohol-related injuries, they are not available for life-threatening emergencies.

“We are not saying people shouldn’t enjoy a few alcoholic drinks while celebrating.

“But we would ask that they do it sensibly to ensure our ambulance crews are free to help someone who genuinely needs us.”

The service has issued top tips to help drinkers look after themselves and others, avoiding unnecessary pressure on ambulance staff:

  • Book a taxi or check bus and train times to get everyone home safe.
  • Eat before you go out drinking.
  • Consider lower strength drinks and stick to singles, rather than doubles.
  • Alternate alcoholic drinks with soft drinks or water.