Air Medical Transport Program Celebrates 2nd Anniversary

Nova Scotia's Air Medical Transport Program is two years old this month, and former patients who used the service are helping to celebrate.

Dozens of people from around Cape Breton who were flown on the air ambulance helicopter are gathering at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital today. They will be reunited with some of the paramedics, nurses, respiratory therapists and other health professionals who helped them when they were ill or injured.

The air ambulance helicopter has flown more than 600 missions since it started in 1996. It brings the critically ill or injured, and expectant mothers at risk, from across the Maritimes to the Queen Elizabeth II and IWK-Grace hospitals in Halifax.

"We want all Nova Scotians to have a safety net in a medical emergency," said Dr. Jim Smith, Minister of Health. "Having a dedicated air ambulance is one of the ways we can do this. The Air Medical Transport Program is barely two years old and it has already saved lives and prevented injuries."

Stationed at Shearwater Airport in Dartmouth, the Air Medical Transport Program is managed by STARS, the Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society, a non-profit organization based in Calgary. The air ambulance helicopters and pilots are from Canadian Helicopters. The entire program is monitored by the Emergency Health Services division of the Department of Health.