MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY – The STARS air ambulance service continues to serve many patients in the Mountain View County district, responding to 61 calls in 2023 and 16 so far in 2024, officials said.
A delegation from STARS made up of spokespersons Jackie Seely and Glenda Farnden appeared before council at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting.
Of the 2023 calls in the area, one was near Cremona, 15 were inter-facility transfers at Didsbury hospital, three were near Didsbury, one was near Madden, 18 were Olds hospital critical inter-facility transfers, two were near Olds, eight were Sundre critical inter-facility transfers, 10 were near Sundre, one was near Torrington and two were near Water Valley.
So far in 2024, there as of the time of council’s meeting had been four calls near Sundre, three near Carstairs, one near Cremona, and eight inter-facility transfers from Olds, Didsbury and Sundre hospitals.
“We are confident in saying that your residents are receiving the highest level of critical care available,” said Seely.
The county currently gives $4 per capita to STARS through a standing yearly motion. In 2024, the total contribution is $51,924.
The calls in the area were served by helicopters flying from bases in Calgary and Edmonton.
Over the past five years, 179 local residents have been flown out by STARS. Since 2010, that total is 479.
Province-wide, the STARS emergency link centre handled 37,365 emergency response requests, or an average of 102 per day.
Of the calls STARS responded to province-wide, 18 per cent were for cardiac, 12 per cent for neurological, 1.4 per cent for obstetrical, 12 per cent for pulmonary, 18 per cent for vehicle incidents, and 19 per cent for other medical.
Municipalities and fundraising supporters will be providing about $18 million in support of STARS this year.
“I’ve been out there where someone requires STARS and it is an absolutely amazing service and it is life-saving,” said reeve Angela Aalbers. “Thank you for everything you and your organization do for all Albertans, specifically Mountain View County.”
Farnden said STARS “very much values our partnership that we have shared for 36 years (with Mountain View County). You are doing something very special in the interest of saving lives.”
STARS presented the county with a commemorative photographs in recognition of the municipality’s long-time support.
“We will hang it with much pride,” said reeve Aalbers.
Council will consider the STARS 2025 funding request during budget deliberations, she said.
