H.E.R.O.S. Pushes Forward
Saturday, December 15, 2012 @ 5:32 AM
New Billboard unveiled on Highway 16 west – photo 250NEWS
Prince George, B.C.- People coming into Prince George from the west, will be learning about the H.E.R.O.S. project through a new billboard sign on highway 16.
H.E.R.O.S. stands for “Helicopter Emergency Rescue Operations Society” a non profit society started 10 months ago, with the goal of having an emergency rescue helicopter based in Prince George.
It will take about $5.5 million dollars to make this dream fly, but H.E.R.O.S. President and Chair, Brent Marshall is confident it can be done. “I hope that within less than two years we have a state-of-the-art helicopter air ambulance that can fly day or night in most weather conditions. I’d like to see helipads in all outlying communities, including a helipad as close as possible to University Hospital of Northern B.C., working in partnership with the BC Ambulance Service, Northern Health, and the medical community to provide the best possible care to sick and injured people in northern B.C. It will benefit all of the people in the north" says Marshall.
Those involved with the society point to the success of the S.T.A.R.S. program (Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society) in Alberta, and the fact one company contributed millions of dollars to that program in order to ensure immediate access to care should there be a serious injury event at their job site.
In Prince George, the H.E.R.O.S. are proposing a not-for-profit public-private partnership which would require buy-in by the Provincial government. The Society is asking the Provincial Government to come to the table with half of the $5.5 million in funding, and because it plans to serve First Nations communities, the Society hopes to partner with the First Nations Health Authority, a new entity which will be funded by the federal government starting in October 2013.
“What we are creating is a game-changer” says Brent Marshall “Our vast distances, our adverse climate, and the challenges of being surrounded by mountains demand we have a doctor-led air ambulance helicopter that can reach people in medical distress, wherever they are.”
Marshall says the stats indicate that of the people who die in this region of traumatic injuries, 75 per cent will die before they reach the hospital. “It’s even worse in northwestern B.C., where the death rate is 82 per cent. In the Lower Mainland, where trauma centres are close, the death rate is 12 per cent.”
Marshall says the team that makes up H.E.R.O.S. has what it takes to make this project a reality “The Technology Exists, HEROS has the will , HEROS has the expertise , HEROS will find the money ,HEROS will fly and most importantly , HEROS will save lives.”
Comments
I love the idea! How do we get involved?
Nevermind, I looked at the picture lol.
Very busy picture. Wouldn’t that distract drivers?
Sounds like our very own ORNGE controversy.
63 % spread between this region and the lower mainland…no wonder immigrant workers won’t live up here, we are getting substandard access to services like this. Why? Aren’t our liveS just as valuable?
Our lives are just as valuable as others only when it comes to dealing with the Canada Revenue Agency. (aka Revenue Canada). Feeling bad? Just remember if ya think nobody cares that you are alive, just try missing a few car payments.
Wow Mr. Marshall, you sure have a lot of energy. Maybe you could share some of that. Good for you and thank you.
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