Saskatchewan’s Air Ambulance Service turned 75 on Wednesday. Dubbed “Lifeguard”, the service flew its first patient from Liberty to Regina in 1946. The service is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year in most weather conditions.

It was created as the first service of its kind North America. Today’s Air Ambulance service has a fleet of four modern aircraft and each one can carry two patients. The fleet provides emergency medical evacuations from as far north as Uranium City and south to Shaunavon.

Saskatchewan’s Air Ambulance still flies upwards of 1,500 flights a year and is based in Saskatoon. (courtesy Gov’t of SK)