St John Wales volunteers will see in the New Year at the Millennium Stadium as the venue becomes a temporary medical centre to look after Cardiff’s revellers on New Year’s Eve.
As thousands of party-goers head to the city centre, St John Wales volunteers will, for the third time this festive season, set up at the home of Welsh sport to provide essential first aid support for Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust in and around Cardiff.
More than 40 patients were treated for intoxication, head wounds, lacerations and other ailments on the two of the busiest nights before Christmas, dubbed ‘Black Friday’.
On New Year’s Eve, the stadium will once again become a temporary hospital to support St John Wales’ first aid post on St Mary’s Street and free up A & E Resources.
Keith Dunn, Chief Executive of St John Wales, said: “We hope everyone enjoys themselves over the festive period but if anyone does need medical help our volunteers will be on duty until the early hours providing vital first aid support.
“These initiatives would not be able to operate without the dedication of our volunteers, who give up their time to help others, and ultimately save lives.”
The Cardiff scheme is part of the Safer Capital initiative supported by St John Wales, the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, South Wales Police and Millennium Stadium management.
Millennium Stadium General Manager Gerry Toms is delighted to be working in partnership with St John Wales and offers the stadium free of hire charge as part of the Millennium Stadium Community Events initiative.
“It is with pleasure that we provide the stadium’s facilities to St John Wales on what is an extremely demanding time of year for ambulance services. Over 50 people have been treated at the Millennium Stadium already this Christmas period and St John Wales are getting ready for yet another busy night on New Year’s Eve.”
St John Wales volunteers will also be setting up triage operations in Blackwood, Caerphilly and Blaenau Gwent.