High Prairie does it again

Chris Clegg
South Peace News

High Prairie has come through again when it really counts.

The community has raised $12,000 to purchase an emergency portable ventilator for the High Prairie Hospital.

The fundraising project was spearheaded by Elks trustee Ray Duchesneau and the rest of the High Prairie Elks Lodge and Order of Royal Purple. When the community saw how badly the ventilator was needed, they came through quickly.

The Alberta Elks Foundation contributed $2,400; the High Prairie Elks and Royal Purple $2,400; Toronto Dominion Canada Trust Bank $1,000; Keeweetinok Lakes regional health authority $2,500; and the High Prairie Ladies Hospital Auxiliary $3,700.

The ventilator was not accessible under normal funding channels, says RHA team manager Kate Butler.

"During the last year we have had several critical trauma patients who have required intubation to enable them to be ventilated," she says. "Some of these patients have been children. As we do not have an emergency ventilator we must "hand bag" these patients while we await emergency transfer to Edmonton."

The problem is that it takes about two hours for Medivac planes and resuscitation teams to arrive and that is under ideal weather conditions. The times rise in winter or if other demands are a priority.

"To spend hours ventilating a patient by hand, is an emotionally and physically draining task for our emergency personnel and severely taxes our limited numbers of staff," says Butler.

She adds bagging is not the most effective way to ventilate a patient.

The ventilator is now on order and expected to arrive soon.

The High Prairie Hospital has 25 beds and serves a population of about 10,000.