WHAT’S NEW, WHAT’S NEXT, WHAT’S UP AT STARS

IN THIS ISSUE:

AGRICULTURE DEATHS IN MANITOBA

MEET VERY IMPORTANT PATIENTS LORNE SMYTH AND MEL MOYSE

SNOWMOBILE SAFETY

stars.ca

MANITOBA | SPRING 2015

More pre-alerts. More missions. More lives saved in Manitoba.

When a major emergency happens time can seem to slow down for those waiting for help to arrive. Reducing time barriers is fundamental to saving lives, and new emergency dispatch criteria introduced in November are helping STARS to reach patients faster and more often.

“We are now responding to more than one emergency call a day, which is consistent with what we see in other regions in which we operate,” said Winnipeg base director and pilot, Dave Harding.

“We are pleased that STARS is out there helping more often in the community and working as part of a broader provincial health-care team,” said Helen Clark, Chief Operating Officer for emergency response and patient transport with the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA).

In January for example, STARS flew 34 missions, compared with 12 missions last October, before the new dispatch criteria were introduced.

The new criteria were developed in partnership with the WRHA and input from emergency physicians, and meant to ensure STARS is activated early during an emergency which has the potential of involving a critically ill or injured patient. After a call is placed to 9-1-1, dispatchers with Manitoba’s Medical Transportation Coordination Centre (MTCC) determine the

appropriate services to send. Decisions are based on the initial information provided by the caller, and the new pre-set dispatch criteria.

“The expanded criteria ensures STARS launches when we know there is a high likelihood of a critical patient needing rapid transport and medical interventions,” said Harding.

There are now more than 80 different criteria which may generate an automatic STARS pre alert, such as high-speed collisions, heart attacks, strokes, serious burns, drowning, electrical shocks and stabbings. The protocols are similar to how the program works in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and many other areas with helicopter EMS programs.

Harding said with increased mission volume comes an enhanced understanding of STARS and the value of the critical-care team working in the back of the helicopter.

“In addition to speed, STARS is dispatched because of the specialized critical care that can be provided by the flight nurse, paramedic, and emergency doctors,” said Harding. “Specialized critical care can begin from the time STARS arrives, versus waiting until a patient travels to a major hospital.”

An added benefit is that local medical expertise (including doctors, nurses, and paramedics) can continue serving in their community, instead of having to travel long distances with patients to receive specialized care at a larger hospital.

MANITOBA MISSIONS ON THE RISE NEW DISPATCH CRITERIA MEANS STARS IS THERE MORE OFTEN

THERE ARE NOW MORE THAN 80 DIFFERENT CRITERIA WHICH GENERATE AN AUTOMATIC STARS PRE-ALERT, INCLUDING FOR SUCH INCIDENTS AS HIGH-SPEED COLLISIONS, HEART ATTACKS, STROKES, SERIOUS BURNS, DROWNING, AND ELECTRICAL SHOCKS. PHOTO: MARK MENNIE

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MANITOBA | SPRING 2015

PLEASE DIRECT COMMENTS, INQUIRIES AND LETTERS TO:

STARS Communications155A West Hangar Road Winnipeg, Manitoba R3J 3Z1204.786.4647newsletter@stars.castars.ca

FOR CHANGE OF ADDRESS: please call 1.888.797.8277or email donations@stars.ca

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Please visit STARS.CA for more

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can also be made through our

website. Thank you for your interest and support!

STARS, STARS and Design (logo), STARS Emergency Link Centre, STARBEAR, STAR- 1, STAR-2, STAR-3, STAR-4, STAR-5, STARS & SPURS, STARS & SPURS GALA, STARS & SPURS GALA and Design, The STARS Centre, Red Ring for Life, Red Ring for Life and Design, CEO Rescue, and CEO Rescue in the Rockies for STARS are registered Canadian trademarks owned by Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society. STARS Foundation and STARS Canada are registered marks owned by Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society.

The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service Foundation is a licensed user of STARS, STARBEAR, STARS and Design (logo), STARS & SPURS, STARS & SPURS Gala, STARS & SPURS Gala and Design.

STARS Aviation Canada Inc. is a licensed user of STARS, STAR-1, STAR-2, STAR-3, STAR-4 and STAR-5.

Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society is accredited as a full “Critical Care Provider” by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS). When the accreditation was initially awarded in 1998, STARS was the first international air medical program to achieve such distinction.

MISSION VOLUME ON THE RISE

PRESIDENT AND CEO ANDREA ROBERTSON

CEO MESSAGE

More than half of the population of Manitoba lives in urban areas with access to critical care within minutes. For the other half, rapid access to specialized care can be very limited. That can mean the difference between life and death, full recovery or permanent disability.

With STARS, people living in rural communities, working in remote areas, traveling on highways or being transported from community hospitals to major medical centres, receive the highest level of critical care in a helicopter staffed and outfitted as mobile intensive care unit.

These patients could be you, your family or your friends.

Recently, our crew landed on a highway south of Portage la Prairie to treat a patient who suffered a heart attack while driving, resulting in a crash. Our nurse and paramedic provided care to the patient, who was in critical condition. This was a complicated medical emergency that required an experienced paramedic with advanced life support skills, and the expertise of a registered nurse with critical care experience.

While our nurse administered medications, our paramedic applied an external pacemaker to manually increase the patient’s blood pressure. A two-hour ground transport was shrunk to 40 minutes in our helicopter, and a couple of days after this major cardiac event the patient returned home.

The crew strongly believes the outcome would have been drastically different if the chain of survival – including hospitals and ground EMS - hadn’t worked so well together to provide this patient a chance at survival. It was also thanks to Manitoba’s Medical Transportation Communication Centre

(MTCC) call takers who coordinated the response, and dispatched STARS directly to the incident.

As you will read in this issue of Horizons, STARS’ missions have increased significantly since last November, after the expansion of dispatch protocols used to launch the aircraft. The new changes enable MTCC call takers to quickly determine when STARS should be sent to an incident.

That red helicopters is yours – owned by Manitobans for use by you, your family and your neighbours.

Thank you, Manitoba, for your continued support.

ANDREA ROBERTSONPresident & CEOSTARS and STARS Foundation

HELEN CLARK, CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, EMERGENCY RESPONSE AND PATIENT TRANSPORT WITH THE WINNIPEG REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY SIGNS THE SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH STARS’ PRESIDENT AND CEO ANDREA ROBERTSON.

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Manitoba is snowmobile country with more than 34,500 riders hitting the trails across the province this year. It’s a fun sport and way of life for many Manitobans, but with seven fatalities last year in the province - including five off-trail, and two on-trail incidents - safety needs to be a priority.

High-speed collisions, falls through ice, and medical emergencies in remote areas are just some of the hazards experienced by snowmobilers.

There are several steps to consider before you head out, said STARS’ flight paramedic Troy Pauls.

“Carry a cell phone, let people know where you are going, and plan your route before leaving,” said Pauls. “If you need to call 911 be prepared to give call takers your exact location, and as much information as possible about your medical emergency so they can send the appropriate resources.”

It’s a message shared by Snoman (Snowmobilers of Manitoba) Inc. who joined STARS for a public awareness media event at the start of the riding season.

“Snowmobiling is a sport enjoyed by thousands of Manitobans, but it can pose a variety of risks,” said Snoman president Alan Butler. “The machines today can be very powerful, fast, and take riders far from access to emergency medical care.”

The Harms family has enjoyed snowmobiling for years without incident.

On Feb. 17, 2013, however, they were relaxing by the fire at a farm in Warman, SK after an exciting day of playing outdoors. As three-year-old Emmitt and his father, Jerry, sat on an idling

snowmobile, the curious boy began checking out the machine.

Unexpectedly, Emmitt hit the throttle, lunging the snowmobile forward into a parked truck. While his father was tossed into the air, landing in the truck bed, Emmitt slammed into the handlebars of the snow machine, cutting his head open and knocking him out.

Lisa Harms watched the incident unfold from inside the house. “I couldn’t believe what I was watching,” she said. “I was so sure it was going to end very badly for my husband and son.”

STARS was dispatched to the property to carry Emmitt to Saskatoon, and then he was transported by ground ambulance to Royal University Hospital. Today, father and son have recovered from their injuries and the family is grateful STARS was available.

“It gives us comfort to know that STARS is in the sky,” said Lisa.

Whether riding for work or play, Butler advises caution, and suggests newer riders, or those wanting to refresh their knowledge, take a safety training course.

SNOMAN AND STARS PARTNER FOR SAFETYTAKE PRECAUTIONS WHEN HITTING THE TRAILS

STARS TOOK PART IN A MOCK RESCUE TO HIGHLIGHT SNOWMOBILE SAFETY. PHOTO COURTESY: CBC NEWS

BOARD OF DIRECTORSAS OF MARCH 2015

(S) Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society(F) Shock Trauma Air Rescue Service Foundation

Linda Banister (S)BANISTER RESEARCH & CONSULTING INC., EDMONTON

Bob Brennan (S)CORPORATE DIRECTOR, WINNIPEG

Dino DeLuca (S)BURNET, DUCKWORTH AND PALMER LLP, CALGARY

Dr. Anne Doig (S)FAMILY PHYSICIAN, SASKATOON

Randy Garvey (F)CANADIAN WESTERN BANK, EDMONTON

Michael Hoffort (S, F)FARM CREDIT CANADA, REGINA

Kent Kaufield (S)ERNST & YOUNG LLP, CALGARY

Rod Kennedy (S, F) RBC DOMINION SECURITIES INC., RED DEER

Dr. John Kortbeek (S)FOOTHILLS MEDICAL CENTRE, CALGARY

Dan MacLean (F)CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CALGARY

Sean McBurney (F)KORN/FERRY INTERNATIONAL, CALGARY

Greg Melchin (S) CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CALGARY

David Mowat (S)BOARD CHAIR, STARS SOCIETYATB FINANCIAL, EDMONTON

Irene Pfeiffer (F) MOORGATE HOLDINGS LTD.,OKOTOKS

Dale Riddell (F)CORPORATE DIRECTOR, EAST ST. PAUL

Lionel Robins (F)INDEPENDENT ENTREPRENEUR, GRANDE PRAIRIE

Evan Saugstad (S) SPECTRA ENERGY, FORT ST. JOHN

Scott Saxberg (S) CRESCENT POINT ENERGY CORP., CALGARY

Myron Stadnyk (S,F)ARC RESOURCES, CALGARY

Ben Voss (S,F)MLTC RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT LP, SASKATOON

Pat Youzwa (F, S) CORPORATE DIRECTOR, REGINA BOARD CHAIR, FOUNDATION

SOME WAYS TO REDUCE RISKS INCLUDE:

• Ensure ice is thick enough to hold the weight of the sled;

• Follow the rules and applicable laws;

• Don’t ride while intoxicated;

• Wear appropriate attire and a helmet;

• Watch for hazards such as barbed wire fencing, sudden steep inclines, and large rocks covered by snow;

• Travel at safe speeds on marked trails, locations or roads available to snowmobilers.

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As Mel Moyse walked up the hill to his lake lot outside of Lac du Bonnet, MB, he suddenly became breathless.

It was October, 2012 and he had just finished removing his boat’s docking system for the winter and was heading home for lunch, where his wife was working in their yard.

“Right away I saw the colour draining from his face and he was breathless,” said Mel’s wife, Anita Moyse. “He said he wasn’t feeling any pain, but I knew something terrible was happening.”

The couple climbed into their vehicle and stopped at the closest hospital, which was 30 minutes away in the eastern community of Pinawa. Mel, then 70 years old, drifted in and out of consciousness during the drive.

Medical staff in the small community worked feverishly on their patient, but stabilizing him wasn’t easy. Not only did Mel have several blockages, it turns out he had a ruptured valve and was bleeding internally. STARS was called to carry Mel to St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, where he could receive advanced care. STARS also had the breathing equipment Mel needed onboard the helicopter.

“We are so lucky the helicopter was available or my husband would be gone,” said Anita.

Five days later, Mel–who had a career as a security guard and also volunteered for the Bird River fire department–woke up in the hospital and learned that he underwent 16-hour surgery for a triple bypass.

Less than three months later, the couple was at a friend’s funeral in Winnipeg. Coincidently, STARS pilot Jon Gogan was asked to speak at the same funeral. The woman who passed away was a longtime member of the Lion’s Club. The club was instrumental in launching STARS in Alberta during the mid-80s and has a long history with the organization, so Gogan was pleased to share a few words.

“STARS was just new in Manitoba and it was such a privilege for me to speak about how much this woman’s volunteer commitment and support through the Lion’s Club meant to our organization,” said Gogan. “Afterwards, a man – whom I later learned was Mr. Moyse - came up to me and says STARS saved his life.”

It was an emotional moment for everyone.

“It had come full circle. This beloved lady had passed away and STARS is in the sky in Manitoba because of a cause that was so near and dear to her for all those years,” said Gogan.

Meanwhile, Mel has returned to work as a security guard part time. In an effort to show the family’s gratitude, he and his wife volunteer for STARS any chance they get.

“They are professional and caring people and not a lot of people realize how important this service is until they are affected,” said Mel.

PATIENT’S FAMILY GRATEFUL STARS WAS AVAILABLE FOLLOWING HEART ATTACKMEL MOYSE, LAC DU BONNET

FEATURE VIP

SHARE YOUR STORYAt STARS, we have a special name for our former patients. We like to call them our VIPs or Very Important Patients. We also like to treat them like VIPs. We invite them to our bases for an opportunity to meet the crew that transported them and also to see the helicopter from a different view.

We also like to showcase their stories and experiences in our various publications, including our popular fundraising calendar, our annual reports and newsletters.

If you or your family are interested in sharing your unique experience as a STARS patient, please call 204-786-4647 or email vip@stars.ca.

Help us tell your very important story.

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PATIENT’S FAMILY GRATEFUL STARS WAS AVAILABLE FOLLOWING HEART ATTACKMEL MOYSE, LAC DU BONNET

STARS NURSE HAS DEEP ROOTS IN MANITOBASOME OF HER BEST DAYS ARE WHEN SHE MEETS FORMER PATIENTS

Margeaux Baunemann was a teenager, struggling to decide what she wanted to be when she grew up, when her father offered some sage advice.

“The world needs more nice nurses,” John Niziol said.

Baunemann always knew she wanted to work in health care, so she took his advice and enrolled in the bachelor of nursing program at University of Manitoba.

(Plus, she is nice – her father was right.)

“Right away I knew that helping patients was the job I was supposed to do,” said Baunemann. “I just never dreamed it would be in a helicopter, flying to a patient.”

Shortly after graduation, Baunemann landed a position in the emergency department at St. Boniface Hospital – the second largest hospital in Manitoba. It was a perfect fit. Not only was she working amid all the action and saving lives, she was working in the same facility as her father.

“I’m so grateful for that opportunity,” said Baunemann, whose father has since passed away. “He worked in the cath lab at St. Boniface for 30 years. That place feels like home to me.”

A decade into her nursing career, STARS opened a base in Manitoba and Baunemann applied.

Since her hiring, she has fallen more in love with being an air medical nurse every day.

“I am absolutely passionate about nursing and working for STARS has only enhanced my experience. And, landing on a highway to help a patient is pretty exciting, too.”

Recently, Baunemann had the chance to meet a Very Important Patient who stopped by the Winnipeg base to thank her crew in person. She says it’s a highlight of her career. The mission involved an allergic reaction in which STARS flew the patient to a local hospital. A few days later, the patient - who was from outside the province - stopped by with her family for a visit.

“She and her husband were so thankful, they had tears in their eyes,” said Baunemann. “You can only hope you are making a difference in patients’ lives and when you see them and hear their gratitude, it’s wonderful.

“That’s not something you see much in hospital emergency nursing,” said Baunemann, who is married to a City of Winnipeg firefighter and mom to a nearly two-year-old boy.

Aside from meeting patients, Baunemann also values the training she’s received from STARS.

“I’ve never seen anything as good as the level of training at STARS and that includes my practical experience in university,” she said. “The training is amazing. It really helps us prepare for the types of patients we fly and the different situations we are involved in.”

STAFF PROFILE

CONNECTING WITH STARS HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER

facebook.com/starsairambulance Our Facebook page is the place to find unique and interesting stories about our missions, patients, and everything else STARS-related. It’s also a great place to see interesting photographs and video clips.

twitter.com/starsambulanceIf it’s quick facts you desire, look no further than our Twitter account, where you will find tidbits of information about STARS and be alerted when we are dispatched on missions.

instagram.com/starsairambulanceTo feed your hunger for cool STARS photography, we have an Instagram site, which is the home for all our unique mission, event and donor photos. You can even submit your own STARS photos to be displayed on our site.

facebook.com/

instagram.com/

twitter.com/

“I AM ABSOLUTELY PASSIONATE ABOUT NURSING AND WORKING FOR STARS HAS ONLY ENHANCED MY EXPERIENCE. LANDING ON A HIGHWAY TO HELP A PATIENT IS PRETTY EXCITING, TOO.”

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There’s no better way to see the Canadian prairies than from the seat of a helicopter. It’s a bird’s-eye view that our crews have almost every day; but their flights aren’t scenic tours, and they know many patients could work on the farms they see below.

“Crush injuries from heavy machinery, limb amputations from augers, and hay bales falling on people are just some of the situations we’ve come across,” said STARS flight paramedic Ray Rempel. “My extended family is involved in farming, and I know the importance of providing rapid access to critical care in rural areas.”

STARS responded more than 2,700 times in 2014 to rural areas, including dozens of agriculture-related incidents.

“The nature of farming is that it’s seasonal and weather dependent, with folks working 24 or 36 hours straight,” said Rempel. “This can result in sleep deprivation and dehydration – and that’s when mistakes happen.”

According to Safe Farms Manitoba, agriculture sadly leads the way in work-related deaths in Manitoba, representing 26 per cent of all industry fatalities, followed by transportation at 24 per cent, and the construction industry at 18 per cent.

In addition, while only 30 per cent of the population lives in rural areas, seven per cent of traumatic injury related deaths happen outside of big cities, and there is twice the chance of dying from injuries, according to the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians.

Part of the reason behind the higher death rate is the amount of time it takes for patients to

receive specialized medical care. This is why helicopter EMS has become an important part of the emergency health system across much of Canada.

“Farming emergencies often happen in remote locations, far from a rural hospital, let alone a major trauma centre,” said Rempel. “Sometimes it takes hours before a family member finds an injured person - and there are stories like that every year in the farming community.”

Farm related deaths also involve serious medical emergencies such as a heart attack or stroke.

“A lot of times farms are multi-generational where you might have grandpa, dad and son or daughter all still working on the farm,” said Rempel. “A strong work ethic can drive older farmers to do intense labour like they did when they were 20 years younger.”

Rempel reinforces the need to call 9-1-1 if a serious illness or injury is suspected. The call taker will triage the situation, and launch the helicopter if needed along with local emergency services.

Rather than putting a patient on the back of a pick-up truck or ATV and driving them across a bumpy field to meet an ambulance, STARS can land close to the patient and minimize that movement.

“We all work together for the safety of the patient and each other,” said Rempel, adding that “while we enjoy the view from the helicopter, many injuries are preventable, and we’d rather not have to come at all.”

AGRICULTURE LEADS IN WORK-RELATED DEATHS ACROSS MANITOBA

SAFETY

BY THE NUMBERS Top ten incidents STARS responded to in 2014:

133 road vehicle collisions (not including motorcycles)

96 falls (home, work and recreation related falls)

75 sports and recreation (snowboard/skiing, bicycling, camping, hunting, etc.)

73 all-terrain vehicles (including quads and dirt bikes)

59 motorcycles

58 workplace events (includes farm and industry related trauma – not including falls and farm animal related events)

39 involving animals (farm animals and wild animals)

35 pedestrians struck by vehicles

25 snowmobile

18 around the home (lawn mowers, electrical shocks, etc.)

STARS RESPONDED TO RURAL AREAS MORE THAN 2,700 TIMES IN 2014.

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AGRICULTURE LEADS IN WORK-RELATED DEATHS ACROSS MANITOBA VOLUNTEER

WITH STARS

The success of STARS depends on the generous involvement of our volunteers. STARS has more than 450 people who act as ambassadors in the community.Dedicated volunteers give the gift of time and help in a variety of ways, including:• INFORMATION BOOTHS

• SPECIAL EVENTS

• CASINOS

• OFFICE/ADMINISTRATION

• TOUR GUIDES

• STAR BEAR MASCOT/HANDLER

For more information contact the volunteer coordinator, toll-free 1-855-616-4847 or email volunteer@stars.ca.

JUNE

6 Lafarge 10k walk/run for STARS

6 Lafarge Manitoba Social for STARS

UPCOMING EVENTS

ABOVE: Jackson Antoniw of Rossburn raised more than $1,100 for STARS through coffee and muffin sales. Here, he receives a gift from crew members for his efforts and generosity. PHOTO CREDIT: DARRELL

NESBITT/CROSSROADS THIS WEEK RIGHT: The Hampton Inn, in Winnipeg, donated $2,000 to STARS.BELOW: Darlingford fire chief Cal Funk shows off his STARS T-Shirts for selling 2015 calendars.

ABOVE: Patrick Romeo, business development at Trans-West visited the hangar to make a donation from his golf tournament.LEFT: Valeant Pharmaceuticals, of Steinbach, donated $8,000 to STARS.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A GIFT TO HELP SUPPORT STARS:• Call our Donations Department at 204-786-4647. • make an online Donation at stars.Ca

STARS HORIZONS | SPRING 2015Shock Trauma Air Rescue SocietyShock Trauma Air Rescue Service Foundation

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE ITEMS TO: STARS Winnipeg Base155A WEST HANGAR ROADWINNIPEG, MANITOBA R3J 3Z1

We hope you enjoy this issue of our newsletter, Horizons, where we aim to keep you informed about what we’re up to at STARS. If you would like to receive regular newsletter updates please send us a note to newsletter@stars.ca or call us at 204-786-4647.

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Not long after Lorne Smyth was carried by STARS, his family found ways to express thanks to the Manitoba first responders and health-care workers who cared for their son after he was critically injured.

When it came to STARS, Cindy Smyth, Lorne’s mother, decided words weren’t enough to convey their gratitude. Instead, she worked with her employer, the Heart & Stroke Foundation, as well as a supplier, to donate an automated external defibrillator (AED) for use by staff at the STARS Manitoba base. Her family then donated a battery pack and other essential supplies to ensure it remained operational.

For the crew at STARS, the gift is a lasting, practical reminder of the family’s support.

“It’s humbling to receive a thank-you like that,” said base director Dave Harding, who was there when the family came for an emotional visit with Lorne’s crew. “We couldn’t believe the progress he had made in such a short time compared to when we last saw him after the incident.”

Cindy said supplying the AED was the least they could do after Lorne, then 21, collided with a tree during a motocross race in Grunthal, MB

on June 3, 2012 and was flown by STARS to receive urgent care at the Winnipeg Health Sciences Centre. An ambulance was already on site for the race but due to the severity of Lorne’s injuries, STARS was needed. The medical crew was was able to stabilize him and apply advanced medical care before transporting him.

“What happened devastated us and I hope no other family faces the same experience,” said Cindy. “We appreciate all STARS does every day because we have walked in the shoes of other families and it’s a long journey.”

She called the crew and other staff she met, compassionate. “We recognize that this is not a job to them, but a calling.”

Lorne, who sustained a number of injuries including a head injury, fractured ribs, collapsed lung and fractures to some vertebrae in his back and neck, continues to improve – although it’s been a challenge. He has had to re-learn how to eat, walk and talk.

Lorne has since returned to school at Red River College with the hope of returning to work as an apprentice electrician.

STARS LANDS AT GRUNTHAL MOTOCROSS TRACK FOR PATIENTWINNIPEG BASE EMPLOYEES BENEFIT FROM FAMILY’S GIFT OF THANKS

FEATURE VIP

LORNE SMYTH, WINNIPEG