Norwich's SOS bus avoided 160 ambulance call outs in the city's clubland during 2022.
The SOS bus is a safe space in the centre of Norwich’s nightlife for anyone needing help or feeling vulnerable.
The service is managed by Voluntary Norfolk.
But what does the SOS bus do on an average Saturday night in the city?
SOS Bus development manager Belinda Buxton said: “We could help 20 people or more with various needs.
“We do everything from handing out bottles of water to providing flip flops for sore feet.
“We also hand out taxi numbers, charge people's phones and deal with injuries that may otherwise require a trip to the hospital.”
To avoid needing a trip to the SOS bus staff say that it is important to plan journeys home before even heading out.
Phones should also be fully charged.
Belinda said: “Drink in moderation or stagger your drinks with a soft drink instead – we provide bottles of water free of charge for this purpose.”
Belinda also suggests that city folk on a night out stay together with friends and look after each other.
In 2022 the SOS bus avoided 160 ambulance call outs and further avoided more hospital trips.
Belinda said: “We have a paramedic and emergency first responder on the bus, they are able to assess and treat a variety of injuries and medical treatments.
“If after someone has been assessed by our medical team, they decide a visit to A&E is necessary but not via ambulance, our support vehicle can transport them to the hospital without the need to call an ambulance."
More than 2620 people sought help and assistance from the SOS Bus in 2022 and volunteers gave over 4300 hours of their time to help keep the revellers of Norwich safe and well.
“If you need our help, put our number in your phone 07833 505505.”
The SOS bus is also always seeking new volunteers.
Belinda said: “if you have a non-judgemental approach, are caring and patient, that’s all you need to be a volunteer with us.”
It costs £1500 each shift to run the service so donations are also always welcome and can be given via the website.
What does a typical ambulance prevention look like?
Three young men had been out on a night out and came to the SOS Bus.
One of them had a wad of bloodied blue roll on his mouth.
“The club told us to come to the bus, my mate’s bleeding” one of them said.
First aiders on the SOS Bus had a look at him – he had split his bottom lip.
It turned out that the young man in was laughing so hard in the pub that he had bent forward and cut his mouth on his pint glass sitting on the table.
Once the lip had been glued and dressed by the paramedic, they decided to call a taxi and head home.
The SOS Bus therefore had prevented an A&E visit as the client was able to be treated on the bus.
It also avoided a police intervention as the injury was clearly not the result of an assault.
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