STARS Air Ambulance is a crucial key to emergency health care in Alberta, having responded to over 36,000 missions since its inception in 1985.
STARS now has six bases in Western Canada and 11 helicopters. Total operating costs/capital expenditures for STARS is 35.7 million, with 20 per cent of the funding coming from the Alberta government.
On Tuesday, Glenda Farden, Municipal Relations Liaison with the STARS Foundation, took time to speak with County of St. Paul council regarding funding and offered statistics specific to the area.
“We are a privileged few,” said Farden, when speaking about STARS operating in Alberta. She noted that not everyone in Canada has access to the type of service that STARS offers Albertans, especially since STARS is of no cost to the patients it serves.
In 2016, STARS responded to 24 missions in the St. Paul area, which includes Ashmont, Elk Point, Frog Lake, Saddle Lake, and St. Paul. Five of those calls were classified as Elk Point inter-facility; three were Elk Point scene; two were Frog Lake scene; two more were Saddle Lake scene calls; and 12 were St. Paul inter-facility.
On average, STARS responds to four missions a month in the St. Paul area. In 2015, there were 46 total missions to the area; in 2014 there were 59; and in 2013 there were 47.
When speaking of the statistics, Farden noted that the St. Paul hospital is a “fairly busy” facility.
A key aspect of STARS is “that we all work together,” said Farden. STARS has 41,328 donors and three provincial governments that support its efforts. STARS now operates out of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Farden also explained that STARS does critical care education with health care staff in communities across the province.
“Critical care starts as soon as we touch the patient,” she said.
STARS also relies on its annual lottery for fundraising, and this past lottery was the first time it was in jeopardy of not being sold out, explained Farden. But, after appealing to the public, the lottery did sell out, and actually sold $1 million worth of tickets in 24 hours.
“It is a united effort,” she said of fundraising efforts in Alberta.
In closing her presentation, Farden requested the county’s continued support, which is to fund STARS at $2 per capital, which equals $12,936 per year. She also asked that council consider making a commitment for the next four years, as per council’s term.
Coun. Cliff Martin made a motion to approve the $2 per capital contribution for one year, which was approved. Council did not commit to any further funding.
