Volunteers set to provide seasonal support
St John Ambulance volunteers will be
giving up their time over the Christmas period, in order to ensure
that those enjoying the festivities are kept safe.
Temporary Minor Injury Units
Working alongside NHS staff, St John
Ambulance volunteers will be assisting at several Temporary Minor
Injury Units (TMIUs) over the festive period. The role of
the units is to provide treatment
to revellers who are suffering from minor
illnesses and minor medical conditions, in order to avert long
waits and take the pressure off hospital accident and
emergency departments.
Four to six volunteer ambulance crews as well
as a volunteer nurse will be providing support at a TMIU on
Broad Street, Birmingham from 21.00 – 05.50 on
16, 17, 23 December, as well as
Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve – two of the busiest nights of the
year for the emergency services.
One volunteer crew and four volunteer first
aiders will also be providing support at a TMIU in
Walsall from 22.00 – 04.00 on 23, 24, 26,
30 and 31 December.
Winter first aid
The winter weather can cause several extra
risks to peoples' health, with frostbite and
hypothermia being common illnesses to strike those
out and about, as well an increased risk of
fractures due to icy floors.
Read how to treat these conditions and how to prepare for
winter.