Paramedic UK » alcohol

Paramedics ‘left him to sleep it off’ after drinking game

Editor — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:12:31 +0000

A man who died after a drinking game should have been taken to hospital by paramedics, an inquest has heard.

Daniel Cripps, 22, became “completely out of it” after drinking 14 shots of vodka at a house party in Newport.

Paramedics were called but left him to sleep if off. He became ill and died.

“With the benefit of hindsight he should have been transferred to hospital,” said the Gwent coroner, recording a narrative verdict. His family plan legal action.

After the inquest, Mr Cripps’ father Michael said he was planning legal action against the Wales Ambulance Service.

via BBC News.

‘Care tents’ for revellers ‘took pressure off hospitals’

Editor — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 20:45:52 +0000

“Care tents” offering medical assistance to festive revellers in Cambridge and Peterborough have been hailed a success by hospital staff.

The volunteer-run facilities were set up to take pressure off local accident and emergency departments.

Nurse Celia Kendrick said the facility had made “a real difference to demand” at Peterborough City Hospital.

Consultant Adrian Boyle said it had allowed Addenbrooke’s Hospital staff to treat other patients in Cambridge.

The tents were staffed by St John Ambulance, army medics, police, council staff and other medically-trained volunteers.

via BBC News.

Don’t call 999 over a hangover

Editor — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:40:43 +0000

Emergency services are warning revellers not to make unnecessary 999 calls as they gear up for the chaotic new year period – like people complaining of a sore head after boozing.

West Midlands Ambulance Service has revealed it receives a number of calls from people complaining of being hungover during their busiest two days of the year.

Last year the service received 2,050 calls between 8pm on New Year’s Eve and 5am on New Year’s Day.

That compares with an average of 2,500 calls for a whole day throughout the rest of the year.

via Coventry Telegraph.

Savage Tory cuts have left ambulance services at breaking point

Editor — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 02:06:10 +0000

A brave paramedic today opens his diary from one hellish night shift to show how savage Tory cuts have left our ambulance services at breaking point.

In the blow-by-blow account of 12 hours on the road, the whistleblower – who has asked not to be identified – tells how swingeing cuts are putting lives at risk. The lifesaver’s disturbing account reveals how:

An 86-year-old woman is left lying on her floor for two hours after a fall – because a drunk 22-year-old asleep on a bus takes priority.

via mirror.co.uk.

Think before dialling 999

Editor — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:07:40 +0000

A drink-related injury could lead to a serious incident not getting an ambulance fast enough, a paramedic says.

Alcohol-related falls and minor injuries are one of the most common reasons for paramedics to be called out at weekends – and sometimes an ambulance is not needed.

Alnwick ambulance station team leader Lee Collins said that most weekends his team is called out to an alcohol-related incident.

He added that in some cases an ambulance is not needed and could potentially be taken away from a more serious injury, especially as only one ambulance is based at the Alnwick station.

via Northumberland Today.

Paramedic assault man told he could be jailed

Editor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 08:53:49 +0000

A drunken man who assaulted a paramedic as he tried to help him has been warned he faces a possible prison sentence.

Passers-by were so concerned when they saw Barry James Jones, 60, of Fowler Road in Blacon, Chester, asleep on a grass verge that they tried to wake him up and then called an ambulance.

Read full article: Chester Evening Leader .

Under-age drinking ‘on the rise’

Editor — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 10:34:09 +0000

An investigation by the London Authority found alcohol-related hospital admissions have almost doubled in recent years and calls to the London Ambulance Service relating to young people drinking have increased 27% in four years.

Young people’s drinking is having serious repercussions on their health and on public services The report said young women aged 11-15 have drinking habits similar to those of their male peers.

Hospital admissions for these females are almost double those for men of the same age because of their lower tolerance of alcohol.

Read full article: BBC NEWS

Jail for 999 attack thugs

Editor — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 07:09:15 +0000

Two thugs were today behind bars after launching sickening attacks on 999 workers in Blackpool.

Teen yob Jordan Hampson punched a policeman – breaking his nose – before turning his rage on a hospital security guard.

James Gould, 63, attacked an ambulance technician who was trying to help him – battering him with his walking stick. Both attackers have now been locked up.

Hampson struck after a booze fuelled night in Blackpool.

Read full article: Blackpool Today.

Drink-drive medic struck off

Editor — Sun, 31 May 2009 06:13:20 +0000

A paramedic drove an emergency response car through Plymouth while he was twice the alcohol limit, it has emerged.

Jonathan Knight, of Truro, was on call when he was stopped by police last August attempting an illegal U-turn, the Health Professions Council said.

Read full article: Teletext West and West Country News.

Street paramedic plan to treat binge-drinkers

Editor — Tue, 26 May 2009 06:58:18 +0000

Binge-drinkers who get into fights or fall over and hurt themselves will soon have their own street paramedic to tend their injuries.

North-East NHS officials are planning to use Government funds to pay for an ambulance paramedic to be based in Darlington town centre.

The idea is that the paramedic will be on hand to deal with casualties who have either injured themselves or been hurt in scuffles.

Read full article: Northern Echo