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By Chris Brown

Still fighting

HALO able to extend full medevac services after ‘significant community support’

Jun 2, 2020 | 12:32 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – HALO is confirming an immediate extension of its full medevac operations after angels from southeastern Alberta and beyond stepped up to help.

A release from the air ambulance service says that based on “significant community support” it will be able to continue for a few months.

“If our forecast holds true, we should be able to keep HALO-1 online through the end of the HEMS Review and its recommendations. We expect that to be in the fall sometime,” said HALO Air Ambulance CEO Paul Carolan.

He said the support in recent weeks, from #FreeFryDay to Facebook fundraisers to the #HALOCHALLENGE, have allowed HALO to extend its program.

“We may not have the full six months of operating funds sitting in a bank account, but with the support we have received, we believe it is a realistic possibility. We can’t take our foot off the gas; we need to make sure we support these fundraisers with everything we have and make sure the momentum continues, said Carolan. “We also can’t take the pressure off the Government of Alberta. The people of southern Alberta have spoken clearly, and definitively, they believe their government should at least do their part, and they are tired of feeling like second-class citizens because they live in rural Alberta.”

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HALO is the only life-saving helicopter medevac service dedicated to southern Alberta. It covers areas that other air ambulance providers aren’t able to cover, providing rapid response to areas that normally wouldn’t be reached within a reasonable timeframe.

In May, the organization announced it could be forced to end medevac service in the region by July 1 without an influx of funding.

HALO has reached out to the province to fund its complete budget over a six-month period, totalling $3 million to remain flying this summer. But Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Drew Barnes said the province won’t be funding the service.

HALO has also launched a means for people to communicate directly with their elected representatives. More information can be found at https://www.haloairambulance.com/takeaction/