Santa & Elf with members of BC Emergency Health Services & Helijet
It’s a milestone year as Helijet International and BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) mark 20 years of presenting their annual “Santa Flights”.
Now a holiday season tradition, Santa is once again “hitching a ride” in a BCEHS air ambulance for a whirlwind, same-day tour to visit children in pediatric units at six hospitals in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
It’s also a big year for BCEHS, which is celebrating the 50th year of British Columbia’s provincial ambulance service. Today, BCEHS is one of the largest ambulance services in North America, providing care to British Columbians in every corner of the province.
This year’s “Santa Flights” itinerary includes Victoria General, Surrey Memorial, Royal Columbian, Nanaimo Regional General, Abbotsford Regional Hospital and the BC Children’s Hospital and BC Women’s Hospital + Health Centre. At each stop, Santa brings toys to the kids and Christmas cheer for everyone including family members and healthcare workers.
“Santa’s visits bring joy and hope to our young patients who find themselves in hospital at this special time of the year,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health. “The Santa Flights also remind us to celebrate the dedication of our front-line workers, including specialized paramedics who provide crucial medical care for our courageous children as they fight to get well soon. We appreciate the efforts made by everyone to fly Santa to visit these children and add a little holiday cheer.”
Joining Santa and his elf for this year’s “Santa Flights” is David Nemec, one of BCEHS’ specially trained Infant Transport Team (ITT) paramedics who care for, and transport, babies and young children with acute or emergency health needs. David is also the interim unit chief of Station 283, the Infant Transport Team’s station based at BC Children’s Hospital.
“We all look forward to the Santa Flights each year and it’s an honour to represent our dedicated ITT critical care team on this year’s rounds,” said David. “Every day, we help children all over B.C. who need medical care, but when we fly in with Santa, we get to visit kids in a setting where they’re in better spirits. It’s so gratifying to see them smile as they bravely face their health challenges.”
Also flying with Santa is Danny Sitnam, President and CEO of Helijet which operates Sikorsky air ambulance helicopters used by BCEHS. “We began this whole idea with a single flight that took Santa by helicopter to one hospital in our first year. No one knew back then that it would grow to what it’s become today, with six hospital visits in a single day. Only flying Santa by helicopter makes that possible. All of us at Helijet are happy to have this opportunity to work once again with BCEHS and help make the holiday season special for these kids who find themselves in hospital as Christmas approaches.”
