Stars Lottery Alberta - should we care?

[Quest206]

. Stars is an essential service that we are fortunate to have in our province. They save so many lives by being the only response to remote or inaccessible locations where patients would die waiting for, or being transported to a care facility.
I am a retired helicopter pilot that spent most of my career in northern Alberta and during that time have done many medi-vacs from remote areas to the nearest hospital. The next time you are out hunting or fishing on your ATV just give some thought as to who would be the first to show up if you had an accident. Chances are it would be STARS and their medical team.
You may think that Stars should be government funded but be thankful for our health care system and the service that STARS provides us with funding from donations, sponsors, and whatever money they can raise with the lottery. In the US most of the dedicated air ambulance helicopters are owned by the hospitals and their services are reflected on the invoice from the hospital when you leave their care. No insurance?? Take out a mortgage 'cause you're gonna pay.
I am a proud contributor and happy to support this service in our province

[landowner]

Everyone one in rural Alberta,should be aware just how important they are.

[waldedw]

I have supported Stars for years, but that's my choice, not sure why so many are on here bashing it, of course most of those just bash everything for the sake of bashing.

Anyway if you don't like it and don't want to support it that's your choice, take your $50 and spend it in the casino if that makes you feel better.

[Tracer77]

Buy tickets every year....hope myself or friends and family never need their services, but if so, it is comforting to know that they are available.

[macee]

Always torn with this one because they don't operate in SE Alberta we have Halo witch I try to support as much as possible but do hunt in Northern AB.

[Zuludog]

We donate every year to Stars, I consider it like insurance that I hopefully never use, just like the Stollery.

[rccam1]

I have always been a big supporter and as it turns out they played a major part in saving my life last April 1st. No Joke!

[OL_JR]

Buy every year as well as a couple other hospital home lotteries. Guilt free gambling.

[Walleye Willy]

Working in the oil industry we always supported STARS and the U of A burn unit, knowing we could be using their services one day. Continue to support STARS lottery and calendar. Also STARS hats available at Peavy Mart.

[Lefty-Canuck]

STARS and the Stollery saved my Son when he was 18 months old, he is now 17 and I am grateful everyday.

LC

[catnthehat]

STARS as far as I can see is running well, why care it up by letting the Government take care of it?!
Cat

[sewerrat]

We buy tickets every year, we are always hoping we would win something , but no luck

[FishHunterPro]

Forgot all about the draw, if you win any of the smaller prizes how do they contact you?

[Sundancefisher]

Originally Posted by FishHunterPro

Forgot all about the draw, if you win any of the smaller prizes how do they contact you?

Congrats on winning. You checked online I assume?

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by foothills26

I also would like to see some proof of this. But really at the end of the day I could care less how much their board of directors makes. I do know stars works and has saved many peoples lives. Thankfully it has never been me or any of my family taking a flight but I have been on 3 worksites now where stars has made landings and taken injured people out. Without them here in Alberta there would be a lot of people that would not have a chance if/when something goes wrong.

That's for sure !! STARS saved my wifes life in 1999. Without them she would not be with me today. I live in a rural area and the incident happened at 2 am. Between the RCMP and Stars, they made it happen. They are the one Public Service I support as much as possible.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by Salavee

That's for sure !! STARS saved my wifes life in 1999. Without them she would not be with me today. I live in a rural area and the incident happened at 2 am. Between the RCMP and Stars, they made it happen. They are the one private Public Service I support as much as possible.

A major oversight on my part ..Parkland EMS. They were the first to arrive and co-ordinated it all from the outset. We need them all.

[rem338win]

STARS deserves and uses every dollar well.

Remember though, they dont magically know theyre needed and 911 call centres dont ask for their dispatch; first responders do.

Its a system we need to be grateful for. Many in this world live with far far less.

[Soakers]

They always get my support.

As an tradesman and driving on Alberta highways regularly, you just never know if one day they just might save your life.

[sewerrat]

The stars lottery is well underway!!

https://ab.starslottery.ca/

One thing is a bit confusing is BC wants a lockdown, BCers don't want Albertans in their province but the Stars lottery has a fully furnished town home to be won in the Okanagan.

To me Stars should focus on Alberta, there used to be a home to be won in Red Deer but they stopped building there.

Don't get me wrong I fully support Stars and we buy tickets every year.

[owlhoot]

I've seen the Stars Helicopter landing on the Medicine Hat hospital a few times as well as Halo.
I support both of these by buying their lotto tickets.
Win or loose its Money well spent

[morinj]

Originally Posted by Sundancefisher

Hi all.

Was just thinking about a friend who needed an airlift via Stars and whether as an outdoorsman, do I see Stars as a great thing?

About Stars. https://starslotteryalberta.ca/cause.php

It was a pretty quick self reflection. Stars is the only real fast way to evacuate an injured outdoors enthusiast from a bad scene to a hospital. This unique service needs to keep running strong. Expanding where needed and firmly staying put. These fundraising efforts are critical and as such I am buying a few tickets.

https://starslotteryalberta.ca/prizes.php#sweetHome

As these lotteries go, this lottery is one of the cheapest at $30 for one ticket.

I encourage everyone to help this charity out as likely someone we know has used it or will need it some day.

Cheers

Sun

tickets bought, good of you to throw it out, definitely a good cause, seen them in action many times!

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by calgarychef

Stars is an great service. Have you researched what their board of directors gets paid? After doing that ..do you still want to donate to to them?

Not to mention, they keep buying bigger helicopters, which means the the smaller hospitals they service have to enlarge or relocate their landing pads, a substantial expense and tough to justify to the rate payers. It is a vital service though.

Grizz

[Cross Eyed Cowboy]

I fully support the concept and use of emergency evac services such as Stars in this province and I have supported them in one form or another since they where formed. Considering the uniqueness of a helicopters abitlity to land on remote and unprepared terrain is indispensable in any situation.

I for one am a thankful recipient of one of the emergency evac services offered in this province. I was involved in a work related incident in 2007 in Fort McMurray, the hospital there decided that I needed specialized attention that only Edmonton could provide. In a matter of a few hours from the time I was admitted to Fort McMurray I was in the UofA hospital in Edmonton.

Is the service and costs the province must realize associated with such a service worth while?, just happens that my family,friends and of course myself thing it is.

[fps plus]

Never ever thought anything about it at one point in my life . Then many years ago they saved my dad’s life. So all my family supports them every year .

One never knows if it could be you they save !

[lannie]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

Not to mention, they keep buying bigger helicopters, which means the the smaller hospitals they service have to enlarge or relocate their landing pads, a substantial expense and tough to justify to the rate payers. It is a vital service though.

Grizz

I think they have smaller machines now. AW 139 to BK117

[cdmc]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

Not to mention, they keep buying bigger helicopters, which means the the smaller hospitals they service have to enlarge or relocate their landing pads, a substantial expense and tough to justify to the rate payers. It is a vital service though.

Grizz

I’m sorry but your post is 100% silly and BS.
Here is a real scenario: Drayton couldn’t take the chopper so they landed In a field and had the patient inside in 15 minutes.

[cdmc]

Originally Posted by sewerrat

We buy tickets every year, we are always hoping we would win something , but no luck

Maybe 649 is better for you? Wow.

Until you see that chopper save a life or more, there is never enough respect for it.
Costs are costs the government or ahs will never come close to what they do.

[cdmc]

Originally Posted by calgarychef

Stars is an great service. Have you researched what their board of directors gets paid? After doing that ..do you still want to donate to to them?

So what’s the option then? Some people make money off of it? Without stars it’s a vacuum of service and good children, teens, adults will die. I’m sorry but you must live in a city or have your head buried in concrete.

This issue is obviously dear to my heart.

I cannot get over how callous your comment is. It makes me truly angry that you can out a group that is NOT publicly funded and saves lives daily.
I hope you can see what they can do in a time of great need to change your awfully shortsighted mind.

[sweld]

Originally Posted by calgarychef

Stars is an great service. Have you researched what their board of directors gets paid? After doing that ..do you still want to donate to to them?

Yeah. I actually do. They saved my daughters life.


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[Battle Rat]

There is nothing better than the sound of their chopper coming in to land.
It is the sound of hope and relief.