Construction of Saskatchewan’s first heliport landing pad on the roof of the Regina General Hospital is nearing fruition.
Scheduled to be ready by for fall, the $3.4-million helipad will allow STARS helicopters to provide better service to southern Saskatchewan, according to a report by NewsTalk 650 CKOM.
STARS (shock trauma air rescue society) helicopters transport between 300 to 400 critically ill and injured patients each year in Saskatchewan.
One STARS pilot estimated the helipad will help save roughly 15 minutes by being able to land atop the hospital. “When you’re dealing with critically injured patients, minutes count sometimes seconds count,” pilot Barry Tolmie said in an interview.
A similar landing pad is in the works for the Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. It is scheduled for completion in 2016.
