TITUSVILLE, Fla. – As emergency responders prepare to lose a Brevard County hospital, another health group is stepping up with help from the air.
Health First launched its second air ambulance, First Flight 2, this week. The new helicopter is officially in service and will be based in northern Brevard County.
The plan for the new air ambulance had been in the works for years, but the timing of the launch couldn’t be better.
Rockledge Hospital is set to close in just a few weeks after new owners Orlando Health determined the cost to renovate the hospital was too much.
The Rockledge Hospital closure has raised concerns about longer emergency response times, particularly for stroke and cardiac patients who will need to be transported farther for treatment.
Health First says that adding a second chopper—plus a third backup—will help mitigate those delays.
“We’re extremely excited to provide this service,” said Tiffany Bassani, Director of Patient Logistics at Health First. “Getting patients to our Level 2 trauma center, carrying blood, and getting them there in a timely manner is what really matters in a traumatic injury.”
First Flight 2 will not only respond to medical emergencies in Brevard County but also assist in northern Indian River County.
Health First is also in the process of building a new hospital in Merritt Island, which is supposed to open in 2027.
Orlando Health also plans to build a new hospital in Brevard County, but there is no timeline for that yet.
