With hospital emergency rooms in the Interlake either permanently closed or on rotating closures, and the region suffering from a critical shortage of rural paramedics, the importance of having STARS Air Ambulance quickly responding to life-threatening emergencies can’t be emphasized enough.
Robyn got to climb inside the helicopter and see the equipment paramedics use
Poplarfield resident Glen Podaima said he knows firsthand how vital a role STARS plays in an emergency. His girlfriend’s granddaughter, Robyn, required emergency care when she was born, and so did his cousin Glenn. That’s why he decided to raise money and donate it to STARS.
“My cousin, Glenn Podaima, had a very bad motorcycle accident near Virden and if it wasn’t for STARS, he wouldn’t be with us today. They saved his life,” said Podaima. “And Robyn, my girlfriend’s granddaughter, experienced some complications when she was born. Again, if it wasn’t for STARS, she wouldn’t be with us.”
The doctor shortage, paramedic shortage, and hospital ER closures jeopardize rural residents’ access to emergency care when they need it, he said.
“There are no doctors in the rural area anymore. And some of our emergency departments are closed,” said Podaima. “When we’re hurt, STARS is our only chance of survival. That was one my reasons to help support STARS. It’s so important to have this service.”
The closest hospital emergency rooms to Poplarfield are Arborg and Eriksdale. Arborg’s ER has been closed for over a year or more and Eriksdale’s ER is open only about six out of 30 days a month.
Podaima said they’ve used Percy E. Moore hospital in Hodgson, a federally run hospital, but sometimes there are no doctors. And Hodgson is about a 45-minute or so drive from Poplarfield.
“Even if you go to Hodgson, they’ll call STARS, if necessary,” he said.
Podaima and members of his family travelled to Winnipeg a few weeks ago to present a cheque for $1,450 to STARS at its hangar at the Winnipeg airport. When he contacted the air ambulance service to say he had a donation for them, STARS invited him and his family to the hangar to see the helicopter and meet STARS’ medical responders and other staff.
“They told me they’re continuously training and they’re raising money to build on to their building, which is very small. Their training [centre] is the about the size of a huge Winnebago,” said Podaima. “The building is not big enough anymore for the amount of crew they have.”
STARS Air Ambulance responds to and provides critical emergency care to people living in rural and remote areas, including Indigenous communities, across western Canada.
STARS spokesperson Blake Robert said he was on hand when Podaima and members of his family visited STARS’ Winnipeg base.
“STARS was built by the community, for the community, and this donation is another great example of that community spirit. STARS has flown over 9,000 missions across Manitoba, and every one of those missions has been made possible thanks to our donors,” said Robert. “We are so grateful to Mr. Podaima and everyone who contributed to this generous donation from the Fisher Branch Gun Show – their support helps ensure that STARS can continue to be there for Manitobans when and where they need us most.”
Podaima organized his 1st Annual Fisher Branch Gun Show last year. It featured various gun vendors, Arborg Livestock Supplies (which sells ammunition, hunting clothing), gun safety experts such as Katie Jones from Arborg, food, draws for new guns and a silent auction. The show is geared to hunters and sport shooters.
Only people with a Canadian firearms safety certificate are able buy a gun from a vendor or enter the draw. And there is a youth component to the show, which emphasizes education on how to use guns safely and responsibly.
“We sold 500 raffle tickets and we got a couple of donations from people who didn’t want a gun but wanted to support STARS,” said Podaima. “We actually did two guns draws and we donated the money to STARS and to the kid’s soccer program in Fisher Branch.”
The 2nd Annual Fisher Branch Gun Show is set for Saturday, Oct. 18 from 9-4 at the Poplarfield Community Centre.
