Local air ambulance called to crash
Two Alberta Air Ambulance aircraft and crews helped to transport the injured last Friday after the horrific road accident that has now claimed the lives of 16 members of the Humboldt Broncos hockey team and staff.
“It makes be proud to be part of a program like that when a neighbouring province has an issue,” said Jake Fehr CEO CanWest Air, which has the air ambulance contract to operate across most of Alberta. “This is why we do what we do.”
One fixed wing air ambulance was dispatched by Alberta Health Services from Peace River and another from Medicine Hat, said Fehr.
The decision about which bases to dispatch from was made by the AHS dispatch system and determined by the most appropriate resources, based on availability and which crews could support the prolonged event, said Darren Sandbeck chief paramedic EMS AHS.
“The Medicine Hat-based plane was able to transport two patients during one transport and the Peace River-based unit supported one patient,” said Sandbeck.
When the aircraft arrived in Nipawin there were also three Saskatchewan government aircraft already on the ground and three STARS helicopters, said Fehr. The air ambulances took patients from Nipawin to Saskatoon.
“(Our crews) said it was a very busy place in Nipawin, Saskatchewan that evening,” said Fehr.
Through a mutual aid agreement, AHS was requested to provide air ambulance support around 8 p.m. on Friday night, said Sandbeck.
“We have made all of our psychological health and safety resources available to any of our Saskatchewan first response colleagues who need additional support,” said Sandbeck. “AHS has established mutual aid agreements that outline how we and our neighbouring provincial partners provide support in any medical situation, including large-scale events such as the Humboldt tragedy.”
Saskatchewan Air Ambulance sent a formal letter of thanks to AHS this week.
“On behalf of the entire Saskatchewan Air Ambulance team, I would like to thank Alberta Air Ambulance for their exceptional support provided to Saskatchewan Air Ambulance and our province on Friday, April 6, 2018 in response to the mass causality incident south of Nipawin, Saskatchewan.”
The letter calls the response from Alberta “nothing short of exceptional.”
“There was no hesitation to provide whatever resources we requested and the co-ordination of the aircraft and air-medical teams from Medicine Hat and Peace River was first-rate,” the letter goes on to say.
Feedback received from the medical director on the scene in Nipawin and the care team at the Royal University Hospital has been “that the Alberta Air Ambulance medical crews were professional and provided excellent direct and hand-off care,” said David Mandzuk, manager Saskatchewan Air Ambulance who signed the letter.
The Broncos were on their way to a playoff game when their bus collided with a semitruck at an intersection near Tisdale, Sask.
“As you can imagine, this was a very difficult event to support and we have ensured that all crews are aware of the 24/7 psychological health and safety resources AHS has available including peer support, employee assistance and through the mental health line,” said Sandbeck. “Our thoughts remain with everyone impacted by this tragic event, including all of the first responders who supported the incredibly sad and challenging call.”