Medicine Hat, AB – Tuesday’s multi-vehicle crash on Highway 9 required a massive response from first responders.
Multiple RCMP detachments, including Redcliff, Hanna, and Coronation were involved in managing the crash.
HALO Air Rescue played a major part in the response.
HALO 1, the newest twin-engine helicopter had already been dispatched to a patient transfer when the call for help came in from Highway 9.
According to Paul Carolan, director of funding with HALO, they were in a unique situation to be able to send out their other machine HALO 2.
“We had our second captain available so he was flying our BK and our Chief Pilot Steve Harmer was available doing paperwork in his office. Which made it possible for us to achieve this mission. That’s not something we would normally be able to do but timing is everything.” He said.
They were able to reconfigure the backup HALO 2 and have it ready for take-off in just 15 minutes.
“That’s not nearly a big deal actually because our pilots are still checking the mission, where they are going, fuel, and all of that sort of thing. So they have that time anyway.” Carolan explained. “So a couple of our other people involved with Rangeland Helicopters were able to reconfigure the helicopter quite fast. And that allowed our pilot to do all of that checking. Making sure they could handle the mission safely. And then they took off as quickly as they could.”
They were the first helicopter on scene with a 42-minute flight and were able to take an advanced care paramedic with them.
Carolan says that they didn’t know the extent of the scene coming in.
“We only had kind of idea of what to expect when we land. And that’s the true nature of helicopter emergency services and particular in scene calls because we don’t necessarily even know what the mission profile is.” He continued. “We have to figure out that on route and that’s where those EMS and fire departments come in. Such a big hand to them because they can make sure that we can land safely and get the job done.”
He says that not knowing can be the best thing for pilots.
“We don’t want that pressure on our pilots. Someone that they are familiar with, or a family member. That sort of thing. So our pilots want to make those mission planning and achieve that 95 per cent success rate impartial of these situations.”
Once HALO 2 arrived on scene, they were able to ferry passengers to both the Oyen hospital and Oyen airport for further transfer depending on injuries.
Carolan says he’s very thankful Hermer was in the office when the call came in.
“We’re working so hard right now just to get sustained funding for our main helicopter. So to have another helicopter with another pilot and crew… the need for it is rare.” He said. “When it happens it’s a big deal like it was yesterday. But at the moment, to be able to fund a second helicopter isn’t even something on our radar. We want to make sure we can provide the service we do with our primary aircraft.”
