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New partnership intended to increase Saskatchewan snowmobile safety

SASKATOON – A partnership between STARS air ambulance and the Saskatchewan Snowmobile Association (Sask Snow) hopes to increase snowmobile rider safety in the province, according to officials. STARS demonstrated a helicopter landing and mock rescue Tuesday, before officially announcing the partnership, which focuses on education.

“The key tips that we would just have would be that [snowmobilers] wear the appropriate equipment, that they ride in areas that they know and to watch out for hazards like fences and things like that,” said Matthew Hogan, a STARS flight paramedic.

READ MORE: Sask. snowmobile tragedy reminds riders safety is most important

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According to their internal statistics, STARS has responded to 13 snowmobile emergencies in the province since 2012.

“We can respond if it’s a case where there’s a serious injury and we’re needed in order to get the patient to the appropriate facility and care for them while we’re doing that,” said Hogan.

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“There may also be circumstances where it’s an access issue … where it’s difficult for ground EMS, fire or rescue services to reach the patient,” he added.

The time saved by a STARS response can be the difference between life and death in some cases, according to Sask Snow president Chris Brewer.

“That amount of time, whatever it is, we know from what the flight crews have done, it’s saving lives,” said Brewer.

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