As folks prepare to celebrate the May long weekend, STARS is reminding the public to plan ahead and make safety a priority—especially when venturing into the back country.
Often considered the unofficial start of summer for most people, the long weekend marks the beginning of what STARS emergency crews call “trauma season.” With the return of warm-weather activities like ATVing, camping, and backcountry hiking, officials say the risk of serious injuries increases significantly.
“It’s one of the busiest weekends of the year for STARS,” said John Griffiths, director of the STARS Emergency Link Centre (ELC). “People return to the back country, hit the highways on motorcycles or ATVs, and take full advantage of the outdoors. It’s a great time, but it also comes with higher risk.”
STARS, which provides helicopter air ambulance services in Alberta and Saskatchewan, receives around 200 emergency calls over the May long weekend alone. In 2024, the organization flew 29 missions during the three-day period, many related to off-road and recreational incidents, including ATV rollovers, vehicle trauma, and mountain bike crashes.
Roughly 20 per cent of STARS’ May mission volume happens during the long weekend, often from remote locations where rapid medical care is critical.
Though widely recognized for its helicopter rescues, Griffiths noted that only about one in five ELC calls results in a helicopter launch. Behind the scenes, STARS teams work to coordinate care with ground EMS, hospitals, and fixed-wing aircraft, acting as a communication and logistics hub to ensure patients receive timely and appropriate care.
To help reduce the risk of preventable injuries, STARS is sharing several safety tips. The public is urged to avoid night driving when wildlife is most active, wear helmets when riding quads or motorcycles, and carry emergency communication tools like satellite phones or GPS beacons when in remote areas.
Travelers are also advised to share their travel plans with someone they trust and carry bear spray when heading into wilderness areas.
For safety tips and information, visit stars.ca.
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