THREE ambulances were 'saved' during the first weekend a safe space bus helped festive city centre revellers.
The new bus offers medical help to people on nights out in the city centre over the Christmas period and has already prevented at least three ambulance callouts.
Worcester BID introduced the pioneering Safe Space mobile van in Worcester for its first weekend on Friday, December 15, and Saturday, December 16 - and say it has already proved a massive success.
Richard Nash, paramedic and lead medic of Safe Space, said: “We are thrilled to have aided many visitors to the city centre through the Safe Space initiative.
"The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive with members of the public and police alike expressing their gratitude.
"Our team provided support to vulnerable individuals by providing warmth, water, and safe transport home.
"We also administered first aid treatment, charged mobile phones, and aided with directions to ensure safe journeys.
"The initiative proved to be a great success on its debut and we're excited to continue providing support and welfare to those in need.”
The Safe Space vehicle offers skilled paramedics, mental health support, drug and alcohol testing, help finding a taxi, a secure space to wait, security alarms and drink StopTopps, emergency mobile phone charging, a change of clothes as well as bottles of water.
On its first night, the Safe Space team saved at least two ambulances from being called out as it provided five counts of first aid and a further four counts of welfare support.
On Saturday, a further ambulance callout was saved with four counts of first aid successfully given out.
The van was stationed at Worcester’s Cornmarket between 10pm to 1.30am, then moved location to Angel Place where it remained in place until 4am.
Safe Spaces will be out over the festive period - at the same times and locations - this Friday, December 22 and Saturday, December 23.
The van will also be out on Friday, December 29, and Saturday, December 30.
And the vehicle is making an extra visit for New Year's Eve night, Sunday, December 31.
Samantha McCarthy, Worcester BID chief executive officer, said: “We take pride in the fact that we were able to help numerous individuals arrive home safely over the course of the weekend.
"In doing so, we were also able to contribute to the operations of the night-time economy and reduce the burden on our city's emergency services.”
Similar projects have proved a success across the country over the past year.
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