Trauma Star sets new record

The Trauma Star air ambulance helicopter program set a new record in 2019 for the number of patients airlifted between Dec. 24 and Jan. 1.

The program airlifted 46 patients this past holiday season compared to the 34 during the same time last year.

There were 89 missions flown this past December. There were 104 flown in December 2018.

The fact that more missions were flown overall, for the month of December in 2018 reiterates how busy the program was this past holiday week/season.

Overall, there were 1,059 missions flown and 968 patients airlifted — with an average of 80 patients a month — for the 2019 calendar year. There were 970 patients flown in 2018.

Trauma Star is easily one of the busiest air ambulances services in the country. For perspective, the national average for similar programs is 264 patients a year, according to the Federal Aviation Administration and the Association of Air Medical Services. The Trauma Star average is approaching four times that amount.

There are now 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 program is administered by the Sheriff’s Office, which also staffs the pilots and Program Director while the flight nurses and flight paramedics are staffed by Monroe County Fire Rescue.