Hundreds of people gathered in Nottingham City Centre to watch the police, fire and ambulance crews perform a live demonstration of a crash

The demonstration was designed to raise awareness about road safety as part of the Nottinghamshire Police’s Deadly Mix campaign which was launched in 2022. Old Market Square in the city centre was closed off for the demonstration which took place on Easter Sunday afternoon.

Nottinghamshire Police’s Deadly Mix campaign was set up after 263 people were injured or killed in a drink-related road traffic collision in Nottinghamshire between 2018 and 2020. Emergency teams showed what happens when they are called to a crash and how they help those involved in the incident. The teams cut up and dismantled a vehicle to free a person trapped inside.

Nottinghamshire Police, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and East Midlands Ambulance Service all took part in the event which also showcased the dangers of drink and drug driving. Over 2000 posters and 5,000 beermats were distributed to pubs across Nottingham to highlight the consequences. Similar messaging running on the back of Nottingham City Transport buses as part of an advertising campaign.

Sergeant Shakeel Rasul, of the Nottingham City Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “The aim of the event was to highlight the dangers of drink and drug driving and show the vital work carried out by our emergency services.

“It was a really successful event. We were fortunate to have really good weather and that helped attract a large crowd. This was also a first for such an event to be given permission by Nottingham City Council and the event shows the hard work all the partners undertook to make this happen."

Station Manager Dan Palmer, District Prevention Manager at Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, thanked those who attended.

He said: “Dealing with fires is just one part of our role. We also attend road traffic collisions, sadly sometimes caused by drink or drug driving.

“Thank you to everyone who came along to see how we deal with cutting someone out of a car and to learn about the dangers of driving whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol.”

Dom Judge, Community First Responder Training and Advisory Officer at East Midlands Ambulance Service performed CPR and provided medical care to the ‘casualty’. Nottingham’s Trinity Square held another event where emergency teams engaged with the public and highlighted the dangers of driving when under the influence.

He said: “If someone suffers a cardiac arrest their chances of survival increase considerably if it happens in front of someone who starts CPR immediately.

“Using a defibrillator on a person experiencing cardiac arrest as soon as possible gives the best chance of survival.

“East Midlands Ambulance Service actively encourage the placement of Public Access Defibrillators by organisations, businesses and communities. The more readily available defibrillators are alongside people willing to act in an emergency will undoubtedly lead to improved survival rates for patients suffering out of hospital cardiac arrests.”