East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) is readying itself for one of the most dangerous days of the year tomorrow.
The last Friday before Christmas, dubbed by the emrgency services as ‘Black Friday’, has repeatedly seen a surge in 999 calls.
Many of these are the result of excessive drinking, often because of office parties or final celebrations before the onset of Christmas.
And this year, Friday December 21 is also the date that some believe was predicted by the Mayans to be the end of the world, which EMAS said is likely to increase the number of people going out drinking.
Peter Ripley, EMAS’ Operations Director, said: “Last year we saw a real spike in calls on the last Friday before Christmas. At this time of year alcohol has a huge impact on our service.”
On Friday December 23 2011, the EMAS received 2,339 calls. This was an increase of over 400 compared with the number received on an average Friday last year.
Already the ambulance service is experiencing a high pressure as demand has soured with the arrival of colder weather, which has affected people’s health and caused icy conditions.
This year for ‘Black Friday’, the service has appealed for people not to drink irresponsibly, in order to allow its crews to focus on medical emergencies.
By doing so, it is hoped that revellers can avoid situations such as drunken fights, falls, drink-driving incidents and even the risk of hypothermia from falling asleep outdoors.
Mr Ripley said: “We want everyone to enjoy celebrating safely but that means thinking about the potential impact of your drinking. Know your limits and don’t take risks with your health.
“By choosing to drink sensibly or encouraging your friends to pace themselves you can avoid becoming a victim to alcohol.
“You can also help safeguard our ability to respond to those in life-threatening medical situations who need our help desperately.”
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