The Mountain View County policies and priorities committee has received an update on STARS activities and plans. The review came during the committee’s recent regularly scheduled meeting.
Glenda Farnden, senior municipal relations liaison with STARS, appeared before the committee as a delegation.
A total of 50 missions were flown into the district in 2017.
There were five calls near Carstairs; seven near Cremona; six were Didsbury inter-facility flights; two were near Didsbury calls; 12 were Olds inter-facility flights; nine were Sundre inter-facility flights; eight were near Sundre calls; and one near Sundre search and rescue.
Since 2013 a total of 297 calls have been in the Mountain View County boundaries. By way of comparison, 418 were in Red Deer County, 134 in the MD of Bighorn, and 241 were in Clearwater County.
Farnden also outlined the types of missions flown by STARS over the past year.
Of the total calls, 55 per cent were medical emergencies, including industry-related mishaps; 19 per cent were for motor vehicle collisions; 14 per cent were trauma, including industry-related; seven per cent were for recreation-related incidents; three per cent were for agriculture-related incidents; and two per cent were for on-site workplace incidents.
Farnden commended Mountain View County council for its past and current support of STARS.
“It’s very important for all of us as Albertans to have this option (STARS) available to us,” said Farnden. “Together you are helping us ensure the safety and quality of life for your residents and for all of us as Albertans. Together we will work to continue to protect and preserve STARS, not only for today but for the future.”
Farnden presented Mountain View County with a commemorative plaque recognizing 30 years of support for STARS.
“We hope you will be proud to show it to your residents. All of your residents are life-saving partners,” she said.
Deputy Reeve Angela Aalbers, who chaired the recent policies and priorities committee meeting, commended STARS personnel and staff for their efforts.
STARS is asking for Mountain View County to contribute $2 per capita in 2018, the same as in 2017. That funding request will be forwarded to budget deliberations.
