A STARS helicopter lands near the bustling scene where Draidyn Wollmann’s life is ebbing away from beneath the cutting deck of an industrial lawnmower. Skilled air medical crew members are stunned by what they see but lean on their robust training to quickly begin transfusing blood into Draidyn’s only intact arm and taking over his breathing. Both STARS pilots help in whatever way they can. Watch all four STARS crew members talk about their initial reactions in a bonus video at https://stars.ca/missionready.
--------
26:47
First Response
As young Draidyn Wollmann fights for life beneath the cutting deck of a stalled industrial mower, emergency responders rush to his aid and STARS is dispatched from more than 60 km away. A ground paramedic soon discovers that a blade from the mower is embedded in the boy’s chest and an arm is mostly severed. Responders wonder how they’re going to remove the mower without causing further damage. Watch the ground paramedic and STARS transport physician discuss the challenge in a bonus video at https://stars.ca/missionready.
--------
28:15
Trapped Under a Lawnmower
Teenager Draidyn Wollmann was supposed to be enjoying his first summer job, mowing public lawns for his local municipality, but one terrifying day his industrial mower falls quiet in the sleepy village and Draidyn can’t be found. When his boss finally spots the stalled machine behind the community arena, he can’t believe where he finds the boy. Watch a bonus video from the community at https://stars.ca/missionready.
--------
30:18
TRAILER: Mission Ready, Season 2
A teenage boy becomes trapped under an industrial riding lawnmower. With a cutting blade embedded in his chest and a severely injured arm, he fights for life alone until he’s eventually discovered, setting off a multi-agency emergency response. STARS is dispatched, and the skilled crew that responds works shoulder-to-shoulder with allies to give the boy a chance at life. Season 2 of the STARS podcast Mission Ready, presented by ARC Resources, starts April 16. Find bonus material at https://stars.ca/missionready.
--------
1:24
BONUS: The perfect soundtrack
If you loved the dramatic music in our Mission Ready podcast you will love the story behind the music. Meet 15-year-old Kaiya Gamble who drew on her talents and deep connection to STARS to create the perfect theme music for Season 1: Mauling on a Mountaintop. “STARS gave so much to my family I want to give something back,” says Kaiya. Watch the video version of this episode at https://youtu.be/9bcZklqw3NA.
Life-threatening illnesses and injuries can happen at the worst times and in the most challenging places. STARS crews provide pre-hospital critical care anywhere — whether it's on a mountaintop, in a ditch, in the back of our helicopter, or through virtual online connection. Thousands of people every year rely on STARS for advanced critical care and direct transport to hospital. Join us for Mission Ready, a STARS podcast as we hear from the people and patients involved in these harrowing emergencies.