V Festival goers urged to stay safe
As the gates open on the 2011 V Festival at Weston Park in Staffordshire, West Midlands Ambulance Service is urging Festival goers to enjoy themselves by staying safe.
Each year, the Service and volunteers from St John Ambulance have to deal with hundreds of patients who miss out on some of the top acts because they had too much to drink or had a bad reaction to other substances.
Trust Medical Director, Dr Andy Carson, said: "The last thing we want to do is stop people having a good time. Almost everyone enjoys a drink, but please make sure you stay safe by pacing the amount you consume.
"In past years we have had people who have come round in our medical centre after getting really drunk and been distraught at having missed the band they came to see.
"By all means enjoy a few drinks but know what your limits are. Drinking too much makes you vulnerable; it impairs your judgement and can make you more susceptible to crime.
"V Festival has a zero tolerance approach to drugs and our colleagues in the Police will be carrying out random searches. Mixing alcohol and drugs will also make the effects of both far more unpredictable and can be lethal.
"The festival provides hours of entertainment so pace yourself and drink plenty of water in between alcoholic drinks. Have a brilliant time - but please enjoy it safely."
