PUB and club staff in Bolton will be given specialist emergency first aid training in a bid to cope with life-threatening booze and drug cocktails.

The new expert training has been set up in direct response to the horrifying incident where seven people collapsed outside a town centre pub in January.

Two people stopped breathing and two suffered heart attacks on the pavement in Bradshawgate as paramedics rushed to the scene.

All survived, but police responded immediately by stepping up warnings about the legal but lethal designer drug GHB.

Now door security staff, bar staff and managers from venues around Bolton will all take part in the training scheme next week. Training will focus on how to spot revellers suffering the potentially lethal effects of alcohol mixed with the GHB drug, also known as GBH. Experts from Greater Manchester Ambulance Service will lead the session.

Ambulance chiefs say the correct response by pub staff could save lives in crucial minutes before paramedics arrive.

GMAS community liaison manager Paul Kenny said: "We were approached following the incident where the people collapsed. I think a lot of people were very frightened by what happened.

"Bolton Council and the drug team were anxious to take a positive approach to the situation.

"We have operated first aid training for door staff in various areas of Greater Manchester. But this course will be much more specialised to deal with the growing concern about drink and drug cocktails. It will also involve all the different kinds of staff who work in licensed premises."

He added: "There is no doubt there is a real problem with the 15-25 age group mixing alcohol and drugs together."

More than 30 key members of staff from the pub and club scene have already signed up for the training and more are expected to register before Tuesday night's event at Bolton town hall.

Mr Kenny added: "Sometimes pub and club people are wary of bringing us in for training. But we have been very impressed by the level of interest in Bolton." Key elements of the training will include heart massage techniques, identifying symptoms of drink and drug abuse, and how to manage situations in busy premises until paramedics arrive.

The course has been organised by Bolton's Drug Action Team and funded by Bolton Leisure Services and Bolton Safer Cities.

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