Bile

Site cecum”

AirBC will be offering com- passionate travel discounts to Terrace residents who must book tickets on short notice to travel to a close relative’s funeral.

Donna Hornsby, a sales representative with AirBC in Richmond explained that Air Canada started this policy February 1, 1988. As part of Air

.Canada’s B.C. commuter

system, AirBC also offers the discount. The policy applies to members of the immediate fami- ly: parents, siblings, children, grandparents and grand- children, as well as in-laws and adopted or step-relationships within these categories. It is not

- available in the case of serious il-

Iness, nor is it retroactive to before February 1.

- “The discount is the dif- ference between the full fare paid and the lowest excursion fare offered had the passenger been able to book in advance. Restrictions are waived, such as

‘having to stay over a Saturday

night. The customer service agents also try to get these passengers to their destinations as quickly as possible,” Horn- sby said.

Proof will be required. A passenger claiming the discount

_will have to produce either the

death certificate or a certified photocopy of it. This can be

_ done at the time of ticket pur-

chase to get an immediate dis- count, or within 60 days after the date of bereavement to get a partial refund. ‘‘Passengers can give the document, along with their customers’ copy of the us- ed ticket to their travel agent who will submit it on their

_ behalf, or they can mail it direct-

ly to Air Canada’s refund ser- vice in Winnipeg,”’ she explain- ed.

Hornsby said there had been some pressure on Air Canada to provide the discount because some other airlines had it. The policy applies to people living in

Canada and flying to- destina-- _ tions wherever Air Canada flies,

including the U.K., Bombay, the Carribean, and other locations.

George Clark of Terrace Travel said some international airlines also provide such a dis- count, but there have been some problems. ‘‘British Airways

Police report.

A Terrace man was seriously injured when he fell through the front window of the Salvation Army Thrift Shop April 3.

- Terrace RCMP report Steven

Brad Harrison was taken to Mills Memorial Hospital, then

* later sent by air ambulance to

Vancouver. Harrison’s injuries

_ consisted of lacerations to both

arms.

travel breaks

gave travellers a discount, but they didn't require proof such as a death certificate. Because there were sO many abuses, they cancelled the policy.” He added that airlines would like to assist passengers travelling to see close relatives who are seriously ill, but that such a policy would likely be abused.

Clark said his office has: handled three or four such dis- count requests, and gave a few examples of the differences in fares. A couple who travelled from Prince George to Winnipeg for a funeral paid the full fare of $1670. With the compassionate travel discount, they were refunded $800. The full fare from Terrace to Vancouver (via Canadian Airlines) is currently $404.40, including tax, while ex- cursion fares range from $176 to $226.

According to Canadian Airline’s Terry Morris, his com- pany, as of their latest policy changes last November, does not have any plans to offer a similar discount.

This drainage ditch on Mills Ave. recently came to the attention of Terrace city council! when a resident of the area complained that the steep slopes constitute a hazard to children playing around It. The concern was referred to council’s Public Works committee, and no decision on action has yet been reached.

Anti-rejection drug policy reversed, no-charge remains - for transplant patients |

Health care consumers may have been confused recently by statements made by health minister Peter Dueck regarding the anti-rejection drug Cyclosporine. He was reported as saying that the drug, which

‘could cost users up to $20,000 a

year, was ‘‘no longer viewed as experimental’’and therefore should no longer be distributed free to organ transplant pa- tients, but should come under Pharmacare. Under Phar- macare, the patient pays the first $300, and is reimbursed for 80 percent of the costs after that, up to a maximum of $2,000 a year.

The drug, derived from a biochemically unique soil fungus, and first used in 1970 as an antibiotic, suppresses the body’s immune system. It im- mobilizes the natural defences which attack foreign substances, including a transplanted organ.

Terrace resident George Faber, who had a heart transplant in London, Ontario in October of 1985, said he didn’t know what to expect. “‘I was told not'to worry about the cost of the drug, which would be about $7,000 or $8,000 a year. Because Cyclosporine was con- sidered an experimental drug.

NORTHERN WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

Prince George, B.C.

APRIL 22, 23, 24, 1988 "Wilderness Survival” WORKSHOPS * NETWORKING * ENTERTAINMENT Display tables available

Contact Terrace Women's Resource Centre for registration information.

638-0228

the Swiss company _that manufactures it supplies it free

to Vancouver General Hospital, .

which then distributes it at no charge to transplant patients, It will be interesting to see what happens, if they try to bill me, in the next couple of weeks when I have to re-order it.’’

There has been no recent .

change in status of the drug. Ac- cording to the Food and Drug Directorate in Vancouver, Cyclosporine was approved by the federal government for use as. an immuno-suppressant in 1984. Experimental uses for the drug include treatment for juvenile diabetes and AIDS. A Pharmacare official told the Terrace Review that the provin- cial government had just issued a press release stating that Cyclosporine would not go into the Pharmacare system as an- nounced by the minister of health. ‘‘Perhaps it was mixed up with AZT, the growth hor- mone” also used recently on an experimental basis to treat

f

AIDS. George Faber was pleased to hear his drugs would continue to

‘ be supplied free of charge, and

that ‘‘the government isn't as bad as it seemed.”

Mh ME

ah "Terrace Review — Wednesday, April 6, 1988 19

Fire Dep’t seeks first. responder | status

Council’s Finance, Personnel

and Administration Committee .

is looking into a request by local fire fig ters to notify the Kamloops Emergency Dispatch office of the availability of the Terrace fire Department for emergency and rescue calls. According to Terrace Fire Fighters Association Local 2685 president Ron Flemming, the fire department used to respond to emergencies when ambulance dispatch was done out of the firchall, but after it was moved to Prince George they were no longer called because dispatch had not been told that the fire department could respond. Flemming said, ‘‘This pro- blem would be eliminated if Kamloops Dispatch would be notified that the Terrace Fire

. Department is able to provide

the needs of the ‘First

+ ee |

Responder’,

The first responder concept, he explained, was developed by Emergency Health Services so that in the event of an emergen- cy, the agency able to respond immediately would be notified first,

He said that agency would then provide the basic life sup- port such as the control of bleeding, maintaining breathing and applying CPR until the am- bulance arrived.

According to Flemming, ‘‘In the past the Fire Department would respond to all emergency calls and motor vehicle accidents within the City of Terrace. The

Rescue Unit would respond for.

rescue and extrication call wherever required. This activity has only been suspended in that the Fire Department hasn’t been notified of emergencies in our area,’’

p.m. and 6:00 p.m.

mation contact Charlie

FOR SALE

Mills Memorial Hospital offers for sale by public tender bid, a variety of used household furniture, appliances and office equipment.

Items may be viewed at the Nurses Residence on Thursday April 7, 1988 between the hours of 1:00

Bid forms and bidding instructions will be available at the time of viewing. For further infor-

Plant Services, 635-2211 local 279.

Lindstrom, Director of

a4/bc

0-08)

The Terrace Co-op is having a lawn and garden seminar with

JACK ATKINSON April 12, 1988 at 7:30 p.m.

. iin the Co-op cafeteria — Coffee, Donuts and Discount Coupons — SEE YOU THERE!!!

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