STARS Air Ambulance continues to save lives daily; from June - August STARS flew 209 missions across the province.

In the Pembina Valley alone, STARS has flown 35 missions this year.

Manitobans are extremely busy over the summer months, travelling to cottages or camping locations, all manner of recreational activities, and the accidents reflect that says Grant Therrien, Provincial Director for STARS.

"Mostly in the summertime, we're continuing to see a high number of motor vehicle collisions, but we're also seeing other summer-related injuries, for example, water-related injuries. Again we saw a number of drownings this year, and we saw some boating collisions."

ATV collisions also took place over the summer, as well as heart attacks, strokes and other illnesses where a STARS dispatch was required.

Heading to some of the remote locations for injuries can be a bit of a challenge says, Therrien.

"In circumstances where we have trouble landing, we will do a hover exit. That's a skill that allows the air medical team, so the paramedic and the nurse, to exit the aircraft while it hovers a few feet above the ground."

Therrien notes sometimes this involves hovering over a dock so the medical team can reach those in need while the aircraft looks for a place to land. Therrien explains one time the helicopter had to land on a rocky outcrop and they team had to boat to get to the patient.

This time of year the team faces other challenges, often not being able to fly because of poor visibility because of fog. During winter the aircraft isn't affected by the cold. However, visibility during storms and keeping the patient warm, are some of the challenges the team faces says, Therrien.

Snowmobile collisions are something STARS responds to often says Therrien, with a number happening last winter. Therrien says hopefully through increasing the awareness of the potential dangers; this number will decrease.

STARS is a not for profit and relies on funding from government and donations, 89 percent from government funding and receive 11 percent from private donations.

"This was a huge year for us, one of the big events that were big for us was the radiothon dubbed Critical Care On The Air."

More than $105,000 was raised during this event. Other large events were STARS Rescue on the Island which raised a total of $114,000, and a big event in the Winkler area was Big Rigs Big Hearts.

Therrien says seeing the support for the service is very exciting for STARS.

Currently, the STARS team is continuing training; the medical teams are recertifying a number of their skills, pilots are training, all in preparation for their next mission to save a life.