SUMMER revellers in Swansea city centre will be getting a helping hand this weekend.
The Help Point vehicle — staffed by police, paramedics, Street Pastors and volunteers — will be setting up shop in Castle Square on Saturday night.
Launched in 2011 the help team is now a common sight in the city centre on busy days, offering a range of assistance from first aid through to giving directions to lost pubbers and helping people find a taxi home.
Fiona Hughes, Help Point co-ordinator for Safer Swansea Partnership, said the current hot weather had been good news for traders — but she urged people to enjoy themselves responsibly.
She said: "Most people do drink responsibly and have a safe and fun night out in Swansea — but we are dealing with recurring issues at the Help Point, which are a result of excessive drinking or drug taking and so easily avoided.
"By issuing top safety tips we hope there will be less people in need of our help."
As well as urging responsible drinking, the partnership has put out a specific safety warning to women about their footwear — about the unsteady mix of booze and high highs, and about walking barefoot on a night out.
To try to tackle these two problems the Help Point team now sell cut-price flip- flops to revellers to help keep them safe.
Ms Hughes said: "Women tend to put fashion before their own welfare but I would encourage them to choose footwear that they can actually walk in or carry flip- flops or fold-away pumps in their bags."
Those sentiments were echoed by Morriston Hospital accident and emergency consultant Michael McCabe, who said he had seen at first hand the damage inflicted by glass or stones on bare feet.
He said: "While it may only be a small injury, having a piece of glass embedded in your foot can be very painful and a tricky procedure to have it removed.
"Not walking bare foot is the obvious way to avoid such injury."
