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Saskatchewan Air Ambulance is celebrating 80 years of providing critical care air transport to the province.
The provincial service is the oldest “formally organized, non-military air medical transport program in North America,” the Government of Saskatchewan said in a statement.
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The first flight took off from the base in Regina and flew to Liberty, Sask. in 1946. Since then, Saskatchewan Air Ambulance has transported nearly 78,500 patients.
The service is now based out of the Saskatoon airport.
“For 80 years, Saskatchewan Air Ambulance has been a lifeline, overcoming distance and connecting the people of Saskatchewan to the expert care they need when it matters most,” Sean Wilson, minister responsible for SaskBuilds and procurement, said in the statement.
He said the air ambulance service continues to be a “key component of provincial medical services today, ready to respond to emergent transportation requests across Saskatchewan.”
Jeremy Cockrill, Saskatchewan’s health minister, said the service has been “an essential part of the health-care system, benefiting many families over the years, and we are proud to celebrate this milestone.”
“I want to extend my sincere appreciation to the outstanding medical teams who continue deliver safe critical care and timely transport to patients across the province no matter when or where they need it,” Cockrill added.
Derek Miller, chief operating officer for the Saskatchewan Health Authority, said the air ambulance is “a critical partner in ensuring patients receive rapid, lifesaving care” across the province.
“This anniversary recognizes the many lives saved over eight decades and the essential role SAA plays in transporting patients to receive the care they need, no matter where they live in the province,” Miller said in a statement.
Saskatchewan Air Ambulance operates four medically equipped planes with service available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The service transfers about 1,500 patients every year.
“Flights are staffed by specially trained air medical crews that include critical care flight nurses and critical care paramedics,” the province noted.
“The dedication of aircraft maintenance engineers, pilots, and medical staff, united as one team, reflects decades of valued service to the people of Saskatchewan.”
