In 2017, Monroe County’s Trauma Star program flew a record 923 patients to mainland hospitals to receive life-saving care not available on the island chain.
Trauma Star’s fleet of two twin-engine Sikorsky helicopters flew 197 patients for trauma, 29 for stroke, 27 for heart attacks and 3 first response flights to the Dry Tortugas. The remaining 667 transports were hospital-to-hospital transfers of critically ill patients that required specialty care not available at Keys hospitals.
In January 2017, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners approved the purchase of a second Sikorsky S76C helicopter.