Trauma Star sets new record in 2021

The Trauma Star air ambulance helicopter program set a new record in 2021 for the number of annual flights flown with 1,383.

The yearly average is typically about 1,000 flights, so last year was a particularly busy and successful year for the professional pilots, nurses, paramedics and mechanics.

“The number of flights shows how important this program is for Monroe County,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “I want to thank our partners with Monroe County Fire Rescue and the Board of County Commissioners as well as everyone on staff who provide its top quality level of service every day.”

The Trauma Star program is administered by the Sheriff’s Office, which also staffs the pilots, the mechanics and the program director while the flight nurses and flight paramedics are staffed by Monroe County Fire Rescue.

Trauma Star is easily one of the busiest air ambulances services in the country, often flying four times the rate of other agencies. Trauma Star is also flying at greater distances than most other agencies due to the geography of the Florida Keys.

Approximately one-third of the Trauma Star flights are for trauma alerts regarding incidents such as vehicle crashes and the remaining two-thirds are critical inter-facility flights for hospital patients in need of an immediate higher level of care.

There are three Trauma Star helicopters, which operate out of two bases: One at the Florida Keys Marathon International Airport and a second at Lower Keys Medical Center on Stock Island.

The Trauma Star helicopters are capable of double-lifts and are often flying more than one patient, so the number of patients served last year was even greater than 1,400.

Trauma Star provides life support missions to Monroe County residents and property owners at no out-of-pocket expense.

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