Stay safe this New Year's Eve, says EMAS

East Midlands Ambulance Service is preparing for New Year's Eve with a plea to those celebrating to start 2014 safe and well.

The traditional party night marks the end of more than a fortnight of seasonal celebrations which puts more demand on ambulances than any other time of the year.

Richard Henderson, director of operations said: "Christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations always mean an increase in calls adding pressure to the service.

"Drinking alcohol can make people take risks they wouldn’t usually, often resulting in injury.

"If you're planning on celebrating the new year make the right choice to stay safe. Know your alcohol limits and ensure you can get home at the end of the night.

"People can help us by not becoming a statistic and letting alcohol or drugs ruin their night."

EMAS is preparing to help revellers across the East Midlands as they celebrate the start of 2014 and alcohol-fuelled illness and injury is set to cause a spike in emergency calls.

To stay safe, the service advises keeping warm, eating something before starting drinking, ensure to drink soft drinks or water to avoid dehydration, plan the journey home and ensure you save money for a taxi or bus and look out for friends and don't let anyone get left behind.