Dawson Trail Dispatch
More Than Just News!
December 2014
7
STARS Provides Door-to-Door Service in Ste. Anne By Marianne Curtis On November 25, the community of Ste. Anne celebrated the official grand opening of a new landing location for the STARS air ambulance. Last fall, it was determined that a dedicated landing spot close to the hospital would greatly benefit patients in an emergency. A site, owned by the local Catholic Church was determined to be an ideal landing spot for the STARS helicopter. STARS Manitoba Aviation Manager and Pilot Jason Graveline said the site was chosen last year because it met all the safety requirements and the church gave permission to use the land. However, they were unable to set up the landing spot until hospital construction was complete. Previously, the STARS air ambulance landed on a temporary site in the municipal yard, southeast of Ste. Anne. “STARS went back to the site on November 14 and testing it; we conducted a normal landing and it allowed our staff to enter the hospital with the stretcher and equipment,” Graveline explained. “After running the route several times they confirmed the spot was ideal.” Having the new onsite location for STARS in Ste Anne will greatly benefit patients in the region. According to Gravelin, the new location means that The STARS Air Ambulance tests out their new landing site outside the back door of the Ste. Anne Hospital. The new location should highly patients no longer need to be taken by ambulance and driven to another improve the delivery of emergency services in the area. location. STARS can also bring their own equipment into the hospital and make direct transfers. “This means we no longer have to worry about worst case scenarios like the ambulance being stuck waiting for a train,” Gravelin continued. “Door to door transfers can ultimately save lives and time. It also frees up ambulance crews that normally have to come pick us up and bring us back to the hospital.” Gravelin said Ste. Anne was an ideal choice because it was only a 13minute flight from Ste. Anne to the Health Sciences Centre. Ste. Anne Hospital is also the only facility between Kenora and Winnipeg, along the busy Trans-Canada Highway, which makes it a prime location. “Most vehicle accident patients along the highway are transported to Ste. Anne,” Gravelin added. An additional bonus to this arrangement to the area comes with the addition of another physician. STARS’ flights require that a doctor travel with a patient, which in some cases means an emergency room, may have to shut down because their only doctor has to leave to meet the flight. Under the new arrangement, the STARS physician will maintain control at all times, thus freeing up the local doctors.
ATV Group Helps Local Firefighters
Gary Gebhardt of Southeast ATV Association presents the cheque to Kim Duncan of Woodridge Fire Department.
On November 6, the Southeast ATV Association presented the Woodridge Fire Department with a cheque for $895. According to Gary Gebhardt, the club held a fundraising social last month with 50% of the net proceeds divided between their club and the Woodridge Fire Fighters Association. “We are proud to announce that we raised $895 for our local fire fighters association,” Gebhardt stated. “We are grateful to our many volunteers and supporters who helped make this possible.”