Helipad

Bluewater Health is constructing a helipad at the Sarnia hospital to support the region’s most critical patients. Construction on our helipad project is moving along – with construction set for completion at the end of September. We are pleased with the progress and thankful for the community and stakeholder support thus far.

The new helipad will offer our critically-ill patients faster access to Ontario’s top trauma centres, burn centres, and neonatal intensive care units. In emergency medicine, every single minute saved in transporting a critically ill patient, drastically increases the likelihood of a positive outcome. For some patients, this can be a matter of life or death.

Access to a helipad locally also means keeping our valuable staffing resources at Bluewater Health & Lambton EMS in our community – instead of the 2+ hour trip to London and back supporting the patient during a land transfer. We currently transfer by land approximately one patient daily to a tertiary site – we anticipate helipad usage of 4-5 times per week, however we can’t always predict these things and could see up to 6-7 flights per week.

Watch this video to learn more:

Next steps:

• Summer 2022: Staff training and education, as well as safety planning with Lambton EMS, Ornge, Lambton-Kent District School Board, and Hanna Memorial Public School
• Late September/Early October: Construction finalized & lighting installed
• Early October: Bluewater Health applies for Transport Canada certification
• Fall: Hanna Memorial Public School safety assembly and flight demonstration with Ornge
• Winter 2022/23 (TBD): Bluewater Health helipad operational (pending Transport Canada certification)

This project has been years in the making. We are thrilled to be in the final stages of construction and are eager to offer this new critical service to our community and the patients we serve.

Community Engagement & Flight Demonstration:

We are planning towards an fall engagement and flight demonstration (Ornge) with the Hanna Memorial Public School community, as well as property neighbours, and other interested members of the public. If you are you interested in attending this event, please email: communications@bluewaterhealth.ca

Funds:

In 2021, Lambton County Council approved funding of $400,000 towards the capital cost of the helipad project. As the hospital’s operating budget does not cover the cost of the helipad, Bluewater Health Foundation is actively fundraising throughout the community to raise the additional funds needed. Please visit www.bwhf.ca/urgent-needs to learn more about how you can support.