30/10/2024
Last year, the Trust received 4,682 calls to 999 over the Halloween period and a further 10,500 non-emergency calls to NHS 111 Wales.
Sonia Thompson, the Trust’s Assistant Director of Operations (Emergency Medical Service), said, “Halloween can be a very busy time for the Welsh Ambulance Service.
“As we approach this exciting time of the year, it's important to prioritise safety for ourselves and our loved ones so please only call 999 for serious or life-threatening emergencies.”
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29/10/2024
Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet has adopted and published a five-year vision for ensuring local people make more journeys on foot, bicycle or using other “wheeled” modes of active travel.
Cabinet members have approved the council’s Active Travel Development Plan (2024-2029).
Its aims are:
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28/10/2024
Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, Ken Skates has announced the latest police recorded road collision statistics from April to June 2024 show that both collisions (24%) and casualties (24%) on 20mph and 30mph roads (combined) have fallen by almost a quarter compared to the same period of 2023 - the lowest recorded outside of the pandemic.
In the first nine months since the introduction of 20mph in September 2023, the number of collisions (26%) and casualties (28%) on 20mph and 30mph roads (combined) were down by more than a quarter. The three quarterly reductions within this period are the three largest quarterly reductions outside the pandemic period.
Because data is impacted by seasonal factors such as traffic volume and weather conditions it is both advisable and meaningful for statistics to be compared with the same period year on year rather than for consecutive periods. For example, data recorded between April-June (Q2) historically tends to be higher than between January-March (Q1). This has been the case in 11 of the last 15 years.
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25/10/2024
With the clocks being turned back one hour this weekend (Sunday 27th October) and daylight hours growing shorter, Road Safety Wales is reminding road users to take extra care and remain vigilant when out and about in the dark.
The arrival of autumn often brings worsening weather and reduced visibility, increasing the risk of collisions, particularly involving vulnerable road users such as children, older people, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists.
Teresa Ciano, Chair of Road Safety Wales, called for extra vigilance as darker evenings begin; “Darkness creates more challenging conditions for road users. Motorists should drive considerately and reduce their speed to meet the traffic and weather conditions.
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23/10/2024
Carmarthenshire County Council has an ambition to make the roads in Carmarthenshire safer and reduce traffic congestion.
Two sites have been identified by the County Council as sections of road which could see the number of collisions and traffic congestion decreasing through the installation of traffic enforcement to encourage compliance and improve safety.
The two locations that will see the introduction of traffic enforcement cameras are Inkerman Street junction with Murray Street in Llanelli enforcing the no right turn order and the enforcement of stopping on the yellow box markings on the A4138 at Hendy (Junction 48 of the M4).
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16/10/2024
Officers from the Roads Crime Unit recently conducted further eyesight tests and road safety checks in Llandudno.
The ongoing operation, known as Op Eyesight, checks vehicles for roadworthiness and that the eyesight of the driver reaches the required standard. All drivers must be able to read a legal clean registration plate from 20 meters in daylight conditions.
Fortunately, of the 116 drivers stopped, all passed their eyesight tests with no issues and the majority continued on their journey within a couple of minutes.
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15/10/2024
Volunteers are being invited to help explore a new way to count pedestrian, bike, and car movements in Caerphilly.
The pilot scheme is part of the Caerphilly Town 2035 Placemaking Plan, which aims to work together with Caerphilly residents to build a town that’s a great place for everyone to live, work, and visit.
The Placemaking Plan has so far seen success with the opening of Ffos Caerffili in April of this year and is now focused on its next set of priorities which include traffic, transport, and movement in and around Caerphilly.
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09/10/2024
The Bridgend Extrication Team once again did South Wales Fire and Rescue Service proud as they were crowned United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) National Challenge Extrication champions for a seventh time.
Porthcawl Extrication, South Wales Rope, Cardiff Central Trauma and Bridgend Trauma teams also represented Team South Wales at the UKRO National Event, having come through their own regional events held earlier in the year, at Cardiff Gate’s Wales Challenge.
Competing teams were challenged on their knowledge and skills to collectively extract casualties from crashed vehicles, rescue from height and other traumatic injury scenarios.
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04/10/2024
As motorcyclists often ride in groups or pairs, it is sometimes the case that if one biker is unfortunate enough to be involved in a collision, the first person on the scene will be a fellow biker.
Biker Down! Cymru aims to reduce the number of motorcyclists killed and seriously injured in road collisions, with the course being delivered by operational firefighters.
The course comprises of three modules:
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01/10/2024
The Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust's annual campaign which is held throughout October aims to teach primary school pupils about the correct use of 999, what happens when you call, and life saving skills including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use a defibrillator.
Lead by the Patient Experience and Community Involvement (PECI) team, volunteers across the Trust, local health board colleagues and medical students give up their free time to visit schools across Wales.
This year it is anticipated that over 3,000 pupils across 35 schools will be taught the appropriateness of 999, the five emergency services available and life-saving skills; recovery position, hands-only CPR and using a defibrillator.
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