Saskatchewan can look forward to the enhanced emergency services of Air Ambulance services, provided by STARS Air Ambulance, thanks to Enerplus' $300,000 donation made to STARS on September 15.
In addition to $322,000 that Enerplus has donated to STARS since 1992, Enerplus pledged to provide $300,000 to the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) Saskatchewan program over the next five years. The monies will be directed towards STARS education and training programs in the province.
STARS is a charitable non-profit organization that has responded to over 21,000 emergencies since it began in 1985. STARS provides service 24 hours a day, seven days a week from bases in Calgary, Edmonton and Grande Prairie.
STARS signed a 10-year service agreement with the Government of Saskatchewan in April, to provide helicopter air ambulance services from bases in Regina and Saskatoon. Robertson says STARS will have a helicopter in Regina in April 2012 and a second one in Saskatoon in the fall of 2012. She says one helicopter will have longer reach, while the other will be more nimble.
The first helicopter will be located at the Regina International Airport and would be able to reach Weyburn in half the time it takes a ground vehicle to travel the same distance.
"STARS is a really important organization," said Ian Dundas, executive vice-president and COO for Enerplus. "Their commitment to protecting people aligns very well with our interests and our commitment to the health and safety of our employees."
Robertson says that STARS is very excited to receive the financial boost. Aside from support of health, police, fire and EMS, the only way STARS can function is by receiving donations from corporations and individuals. Enerplus has provided the necessary momentum to get STARS up and running in Saskatchewan.
STARS is currently doing outreach and education to health care workers, police, fire and EMS personnel around the province to familiarize them with air ambulance procedures, such as safe landing zones.
Enerplus is a Canadian energy producer with more than 200 producing wells and ten facilities in Southeast Saskatchewan. This event coincided with the grand opening of the company's new Weyburn office.
