BC Emergency Health Services (BCEHS) and Helijet yesterday marked the 15th anniversary of “Santa Flights,” an event that brings Santa via air ambulance to visit children in British Columbia hospitals.
“Each holiday season, we eagerly look forward to the Santa Flights and the happiness it brings to children who have been bravely fighting illnesses in hospitals,” said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health for the Province. “I’m delighted to celebrate 15 years of this merry tradition, and soon there will be smiles on little faces when BCEHS and Helijet bring Santa around.”
Started in 2005, now the holiday season tradition sees Santa flying via air ambulance to visit children in five hospitals – Victoria General, Nanaimo Regional General, BC Children’s, Surrey Memorial and Royal Columbian in New Westminster – all in a single day.
“Helijet is proud to work every day with BC Emergency Health Services and its paramedics to provide 24/7 helicopter service for thousands of critically ill patients across the province,” said Danny Sitnam, CEO, Helijet. “Our sincere hope is that these visits bring a small measure of happiness to children who are spending the holidays away from home. Our dedicated staff at Helijet has helped fly Santa for the past 15 years and we’re delighted to do it.”
This year’s Santa Flights event includes the participation of Sitnam and BC Ambulance Service paramedic Ray Sims, who help distribute the donated toys. Sims was a member of the very first specialty-trained, Infant Transport Team (ITT), when it was formed in 1976 to provide specialized paramedic care to the province’s youngest patients.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see all of these young patients as their faces light up and they visit with Santa,” says Sims. “Infant Transport Team paramedics help care for and transport babies and young children with acute or traumatic emergency health needs to hospital, so reunions like this are extra special for all of us.”
