Ambulance chiefs urge students to stay safe (From Halesowen News)

Ambulance chiefs urge students to stay safe

2:30pm Thursday 16th August 2012 in News

AMBULANCE chiefs are urging A-level students to stay safe tonight whether drowning their sorrows or celebrating a set of straight As.

West Midlands Ambulance Service estimates with results out today (Thursday) there will be more people out and about this afternoon and tonight at pubs, clubs and bars across the borough.

Assistant chief ambulance officer, Craig Cooke, has issued a warning to young people to know their limits when it comes to alcohol and to make sure their celebrations don’t end their hopes and dreams for the future.

He said: “The last thing we want to do is to stop people celebrating their hopefully good news, but what we want to avoid is them ending up needing our services, or worse still, ours and those of the police.”

He urged youngsters to ensure they do not drink too much and to avoid drinking and driving.

He added: “As a paramedic and a father, some of the saddest cases we see are youngsters who are killed or seriously injured as a result of drinking and driving.

“It is just as dangerous for you to accept a lift from someone you know who’s been drinking or taking drugs. They are putting themselves, you and other road users at a massive risk.”

He also urged youngsters not to offer alcohol to those who are driving, not to leave drinks unattended, and not to venture home alone.