WINNIPEG, May 23, 2013 /CNW/ - The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society (STARS) today announced a $500,000 commitment from the RBC Foundation towards the development of a STARS Mobile Education Program in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The funds will be divided equally between the two provinces.
"RBC is proud to support the STARS Mobile Education Program to educate and train emergency medical care providers like physicians, nurses and paramedics who work outside of major centers," said David McKay, group head, Personal & Commercial Banking, RBC. "Together, through responsible community investment and partnerships with outstanding organizations like STARS, we can make a difference in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and in all the other communities - large and small - where we are privileged to operate."
The STARS Mobile Education Program was launched in Alberta in 1999 and it was the first mobile program of its kind in North America. Designed to remove barriers such as distance to critical care training, STARS personnel will train rural emergency care practitioners in their own communities using advanced human patient simulators. The program for Manitoba and Saskatchewan is currently in development, and STARS will announce additional details later this year.
"Now that our bases in Manitoba and Saskatchewan are fully operational, the time is right for STARS to embark upon the next phase of its service - expansion of emergency care knowledge and skills into rural areas," said Rod Gantefoer, executive vice president of the STARS Foundation. "At STARS, it's all about the patient. Whether it's the EMS paramedic first on scene or the emergency room nurse, that initial front line care is so important to the chain of survival. By sharing our physician-led training, we're helping ensure patients receive the best care in rural and remote areas."
Since 1990, RBC has donated more than $1.2 million to the STARS service, including today's announcement. RBC joins a number of donors working together to make the Mobile Education Program available in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta.
About STARS
STARS is a non-profit helicopter air ambulance organization that provides rapid and specialized emergency care and transportation for critically ill and injured patients. Our doctors, nurses, paramedics, and pilots work with a team of dedicated support staff and community partners to save lives. STARS operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week from bases in Winnipeg, Regina, Saskatoon, Calgary, Edmonton, and Grande Prairie.
About RBC's Commitment to Community and Sustainability
Royal Bank of Canada (RY on TSX and NYSE) and its subsidiaries operate under the master brand name RBC. We employ approximately 80,000 full- and part-time employees who serve more than 15 million personal, business, public sector and institutional clients through offices in Canada, the U.S. and 49 other countries. RBC is recognized among the world's financial, social and environmental leaders and is listed on the 2012 - 2013 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, the DJSI North American Index, the Jantzi Social Index and the FTSE4Good Index. RBC is one of Canada's Greenest Employers, one of Canada's 50 Most Socially Responsible Corporations and among the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World. Learn more at www.rbc.com/community-sustainability.
RBC supports a broad range of community initiatives through donations, sponsorships and employee volunteer activities. In 2012, we contributed more than $95 million to causes worldwide, including donations and community investments of more than $64 million and $31 million in sponsorships.
Image with caption: "The Shock Trauma Air Rescue Society announces $500,000 commitment from the RBC Foundation (left to right holding cheque: Dave McKay, Group Head, Personal and Commercial Banking, RBC; Rod Gantefoer, Executive Vice President of the STARS Foundation, and; Rob Johnston, Regional President, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and North Western, RBC) (CNW Group/RBC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130523_C9367_PHOTO_EN_26990.jpg
SOURCE: RBC
