Funds required for new Helipad
The time has come for some formal information surrounding the improvement and sustainability of your emergency care services in the Kerrobert and District area. Members of Kerrobert Fire and Rescue have spearheaded the formation of a new partnership to facilitate the installation of a registered Helipad to be constructed next to the Integrated Health facility located in Kerrobert. The helipad will be owned and maintained by the community and regulated by Transport Canada.
The 110 ft square that will become the site of the new pad was obtained from the school board. It will be an isolated, fenced area, only accessible through the Hospital property. It will have access to the hospital via a ramp for STARS and other rescue personnel to load patients directly from the hospital, into a helicopter, without the need for loading and unloading from an ambulance. This will enhance all areas of care and resources for everyone involved.
PHOTO BY KATE WINQUIST
Unfortunately, we have learned through recent tragic events that we are not exempt from life’s defining moments, and that preparing for the worst is something that these entities must address constantly in order to keep ourselves ready. This facility will support the best of what our province has to offer you in terms of emergency care, that being the STARS program. The process has been a time consuming and arduous one, the hours of meetings, emails and phone calls has built up over the last 5 years, but now we are poised to move ahead. We have commitments and approvals from everyone necessary to proceed with site plan completion and certification this summer!
Development engineering, registration, manuals, and training for the project have risen close to $40000.00. Actual construction costs could push that number as high as $80000.00. We feel that with the materials and support that have already been pledged, this is an attainable goal, and we will do our best to come in under that. All contributions to the helipad are for the sole purpose of this project. They are not to be misconstrued as a donation to STARS or any of the other groups involved.
Any additional funds that are collected with this undertaking will stay with the project and facilitate any needed repairs or updates that are deemed necessary to maintain it. They will not be used for any other purpose. All donations received are put in a funded reserve account with the town of Kerrobert and will be used entirely for the construction and ongoing maintenance and recertification of the pad itself.
We have received several large corporate donations for the construction and development of this project already. Unfortunately, with the project being extended over such a long period of time, we are in a shortfall position to complete the process at this point. We all hope and pray that it isn’t our father or mother, or son and daughter that requires a ride in the red helicopter, but unfortunately someday that may be the case.
The STARS program is amazing for our rural area. It continues to provide a golden link in our system, advanced patient transport and care, and utilizes our central health facilities which in turn saves lives.
So now the ask ... We need your help, and it comes down to dollars. Please make any private or corporate donations for this project payable to the Town of Kerrobert, where it will be placed in our helipad account, and utilized solely for construction and certification costs and yearly upgrades or maintenance. Donation receipts are available. Anyone having more questions about the project or wanting to donate feel free to contact me and I’d be happy to have a talk.
Thank you to everyone for your consideration and time.
Brad Murphy
Town of Kerrobert / Helipad
Box 558
Kerrobert, SK. S0L 1R0
306-494-7532
btqtk@sasktel.net