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What goes on at the Medway SOS bus

Alcohol Awareness Week
Alcohol Awareness Week
The SOS bus, which will help vulnerable people at the weekends in Rochester
The SOS bus, which will help vulnerable people at the weekends in Rochester

By Katie Lamborn

Treating a man with bite marks on his stomach.

That's one of the most unusual injuries Red Cross worker Jean has dealt with aboard the Medway SOS bus on Rochester High Street.

Staffed by volunteers, the bus is outside the Casino Rooms every Friday and has been since May last year.

"We've prevented 42 ambulances coming out by treating people onboard or by taking injured people ourselves to A&E.

"That's a saving of £6,000 to the NHS."

"But what it's really about saving is lives," said Medway SOS Bus Co-ordinator Robin Wharfe.

"Only a few weeks ago we found a lady drunk, lying on a bench.

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"She's recently been in hospital with peritonitis and the drugs she was taking had reacted badly with the alcohol she'd drunk.

"If we hadn't found her, she could have gone into a state of unconsiousness and even died."

One of the most common injuries on the High Street are sprained ankles.

"We have pink flip flops to give to girls who've taken a fall after dancing in heels all night," said Allan Dyke who works alongside the SOS bus co-ordinating Medway Street Pastors.

"We work together to make sure everyone who's out for a good time has one."

If you're interested in becoming a Street Pastor contact Allan atmedway@streetpastors.org.uk

If you want to know more about The Medway SOS Bus contact Robin Wharfe on 01634 812850 orrobin@csvmedway.org.uk

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