Health First To Expand First Flight Air Ambulance Service With Second Helicopter in North Brevard

Health First's Holmes Regional Medical Center is the area’s only Level II Trauma Center

As Brevard County continues to experience population and visitor growth, Health First is doubling its air fleet to meet emergency and trauma needs.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Health First officials today announced the expansion of its First Flight air ambulance program with plans to add a second full-time aircraft covering the community in Northern Brevard in early 2025.

Brevard County has long been named among national “best places” rankings for relocation and retirement, and the county continues to attract record numbers of visitors along with new employers.

With the influx of aerospace and defense employment and one of the nation’s busiest commercial cruise ports, the tenth-largest county in the state of Florida is expected to continue its growth and development.  

First Flight has served as the primary helicopter ambulance service for Brevard County and northern Indian River County for over 35 years, responding to multiple calls each day.

As the number of calls increases, Health First is also doubling its air fleet to meet the anticipated growth of emergency and trauma needs.

Holmes Regional Medical Center is the area’s only Level II Trauma Center. Along with traumatic injuries, including falls, recreational, motor vehicle, and boating accidents, First Flight also transports cardiac and stroke patients for specialized emergent care to the area’s only Joint Commissioned-certified Thrombectomy Capable Stroke Center and world-class Heart Center at Holmes Regional Medical Center.

“With four hospitals, including the region’s only Level II Trauma Center, Health First is proud and honored to serve Brevard County and surrounding areas with our First Flight air ambulance program,” said Health First President and CEO Terry Forde.

“We know that in a traumatic event – from vehicle or boating accidents to stroke, recreational or work-related injury – more than anything, time matters! The “golden hour” – that ability to quickly respond, treat, and transport patients to lifesaving care – is absolutely critical to the outcome in traumatic situations. As Brevard County continues to grow, our ability to respond and care for our most vulnerable patients will grow with it. I’m excited about embarking on this next step to serve our community needs at the highest level,” Forde continued.  

First Flight can transport a patient from the north end of the county as far as Mims to Holmes Regional Medical Center in approximately 25 minutes.

Additionally, Health First is a partner with NASA and several private space companies providing mutual aid support.

First Flight is licensed by the state of Florida to provide a variety of life-saving medical services and community education programs, including:

■ Transportation of adult and pediatric trauma and medical patients

■ Specialized transport of cardiac patients needing intra-aortic balloon pump therapy, Impella and transvenous pacemaker management

■ Specialized transport of high-risk maternity patients

■ Educational programs for community outreach and for other healthcare professionals

■ Injury prevention and safety programs

■ First Flight has been administering blood products to critical patients since 2002 and in 2022 is the first air ambulance in the region to administer whole blood products

The flight crew, with more than 247 years of combined experience, includes medical personnel with training in emergency and critical care medicine. Each registered nurse is also a state-certified paramedic.

All flight crew members hold certifications in critical care or flight nursing, and the pilots all have extensive years of experience – with thousands of hours in completed medical missions.

First Flight’s Medical Directors are both Board Certified in Emergency Medicine.  Dr. Marty Brown is a pilot with extensive EMS background and Dr. Larissa Dudley is a Board-Certified EMS physician, having completed a Fellowship in Emergency Medical Services/Disaster Medicine.

Similar Stories