Casualties of Christmas spirit will be catered for at a specially-established unit in the city centre.
With the festive party season upon us, West Midlands Ambulance Service is back in Birmingham City Centre for its sixth year to treat worse for wear revellers and reduce A&E admissions.
The temporary minor injury unit (TMIU), based on Broad Street, will be providing treatment to the walking wounded, patients suffering with minor illness and minor medical conditions and revellers who have had too much to drink during the busiest party nights in December. Staffed by WMAS paramedics, technicians, Central Accident Resuscitation Emergency (CARE) team nurses and doctors, St John Ambulance volunteers and Fastaid Community First Responders, the TMIU will be equipped to provide patients with fast and efficient treatment to avoid a long wait in accident and emergency.
The TMIU has been operating a small-scale treatment unit on Broad Street at weekends for over a year, dealing with minor, mostly alcohol-related injuries thereby enabling ambulance crews and A&E departments to concentrate on more serious cases. They are now gearing up for what is traditionally the busiest time of year for both party-goers and the ambulance services.
Glen Curry, Regional Events Manager for St John Ambulance, said: “We are always pleased to work in partnership with the ambulance service and other agencies to ensure the public can have fun safely. We have a team of highly-trained first aiders and ambulance crews who will be volunteering their services to support party goers or anyone who requires first aid support in the city centre during the busy festive period. Having this centre available means people can get treatment quickly, which could be the difference between a life lost and a life saved in an emergency.”
The TMIU will be located at the House of Sport on Broad Street on Friday 21st, Saturday 22nd, Saturday 29th and Monday 31st December and is operational between 8.00pm and 4.00am.
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