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| Services 'ready for bleak Friday' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Emergency services and hospitals are bracing themselves for one of the busiest nights of the year, otherwise known as bleak Friday. | Emergency services and hospitals are bracing themselves for one of the busiest nights of the year, otherwise known as bleak Friday. |
| In Swansea, Cardiff and Newport city centres, safety teams will run triage centres to treat minor injuries. | |
| Across Wales extra police will patrol and in Newport officers will hand out bottled water. | |
| After the last working day before Christmas for many people, they have been urged to drink responsibly. | |
| A spokeswoman for the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff said staff were aware of the significance of the day. | A spokeswoman for the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff said staff were aware of the significance of the day. |
| "The emergency staff will deal with everyone as soon as they can when they arrive," she said. | "The emergency staff will deal with everyone as soon as they can when they arrive," she said. |
| South Wales Police said officers would be carrying out extra breath tests as part of this year's anti drink-drive campaign. | South Wales Police said officers would be carrying out extra breath tests as part of this year's anti drink-drive campaign. |
| Our message is to have fun but think and be safe South Wales Police spokeswoman | Our message is to have fun but think and be safe South Wales Police spokeswoman |
| As part of Operation Safe Travel, officers will also be checking taxis are registered and road-worthy. | As part of Operation Safe Travel, officers will also be checking taxis are registered and road-worthy. |
| "Unlicensed bogus taxis drivers are a particular problem at this time of year and there have been cases of lone women being assaulted after taking such rides," said a South Wales Police spokeswoman. | "Unlicensed bogus taxis drivers are a particular problem at this time of year and there have been cases of lone women being assaulted after taking such rides," said a South Wales Police spokeswoman. |
| "We would urge everyone to arrange their transport in advance. | "We would urge everyone to arrange their transport in advance. |
| "Our message is to have fun but think and be safe." | "Our message is to have fun but think and be safe." |
| In Wrexham and Rhyl, the Welsh Ambulance Service will provide rapid response vehicles to deliver roadside treatment and assessment for minor injuries to reduce the demand for A&E services. | |
| On Friday and Saturday nights, a triage vehicle staffed by the ambulance service and St John Cymru Wales will be parked on St Mary Street in Cardiff to treat minor injuries, illnesses and people with minor drink-related difficulties. | On Friday and Saturday nights, a triage vehicle staffed by the ambulance service and St John Cymru Wales will be parked on St Mary Street in Cardiff to treat minor injuries, illnesses and people with minor drink-related difficulties. |
| There will also be a treatment centre in the Millennium Stadium. | There will also be a treatment centre in the Millennium Stadium. |
| In the city centre we are still subject to an eight minute response time and by having this resource in place we are hitting that target Alun Harris, Welsh Ambulance Service | In the city centre we are still subject to an eight minute response time and by having this resource in place we are hitting that target Alun Harris, Welsh Ambulance Service |
| "We are just looking to take some of the pressure off the accident and emergency department at the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff," said Alun Harris, of the Welsh Ambulance Service. | |
| "Last year we had some very positive comments from some of the people who came in. The majority of them are very thankful. | "Last year we had some very positive comments from some of the people who came in. The majority of them are very thankful. |
| "In the city centre we are still subject to an eight-minute response time and by having this resource in place we are hitting that target. | |
| "It also means the emergency ambulances can be put to good use dealing with people who are properly ill." | "It also means the emergency ambulances can be put to good use dealing with people who are properly ill." |
| In Newport, 20 extra officers will patrol the city centre and Gwent Police will work with Christian charity Team Challenge to distribute pink handbags containing leaflets on safe drinking, as well as bottled water. | |
| North Wales Police said they would continue to enforce a number of anti-crime initiatives, including Operation Mistletoe throughout Christmas and new year. | |
| Anti-social behaviour, alcohol-related violence, drink-drivers and retail theft are some of the issues they have been targeting since the launch earlier in December. | |
| Dyfed-Powys Police said that while they did not face the same problems because they do not have any big cities, there had been "extensive planning" so people can enjoy the festive period safely. | Dyfed-Powys Police said that while they did not face the same problems because they do not have any big cities, there had been "extensive planning" so people can enjoy the festive period safely. |