Health First Trauma Center and First Flight Air Medical Transport

08/06/2026

This week, members of Health First's First Flight team joined partners from Brevard County Ocean Rescue , Cocoa Beach Fire Department , Cocoa Beach Police Department and Brevard County Fire Rescue for a large-scale ocean rescue training exercise. 🌊

With millions of visitors enjoying Brevard County’s beaches and waterways each year, these moments of preparation help ensure our community has the support it needs when emergencies happen.

Learn more about this training and the teamwork behind emergency response in our community.⬇️

Home to Florida's Space Coast, Brevard County welcomes millions of visitors each year to its beaches, waterways and outdoor attractions.

07/03/2026

Getting ready for the Fourth of July? 🎇 However you’re celebrating, don’t forget to put safety first!

07/01/2026

🏊 Nearly 100 children joined us for the World's Largest Swimming Lesson in Palm Bay alongside our community partners.
Families received hands-on swim instruction, water safety education, and a firsthand look at Health First's First Flight air ambulance and the lifesaving work of our local first responders.

On the Space Coast, where water is part of everyday life, water safety education is critical. "Kids are just exposed to so many situations where, if they are not prepared and knowledgeable about swimming and water safety, the drowning risks are unfortunately very, very prevalent," Larissa Dudley, MD, EMS Medical Director for Health First's First Flight program, shared.

Read the full story to see how we're working with our community to help keep kids safe in and around the water.⬇️

Palm Bay Fire-Rescue Chief Richard Stover has responded to far too many drowning calls during his career.

06/30/2026

Hot days are part of life in Florida. ☀️
Rob Spivey, Program Nurse Manager with Health First's First Flight, recently spoke with WESH 2 News about how to stay safe when temperatures soar.

💧 Drink plenty of water throughout the day—not just when you feel thirsty.
🌳 Limit outdoor activities during the hottest part of the day (typically 10 a.m.–4 p.m.). If you do need to be outside, take frequent breaks in the shade or an air-conditioned space.
⚠️ Know the signs of heat illness, including dizziness, headache, nausea, muscle cramps, heavy sweating, confusion, or fainting. If symptoms become severe or don't improve, seek medical care right away.

▶️ Watch the full segment below to learn more about staying healthy and hydrated all summer long.

Central Florida is heating up this week, with humidity pushing the heat index above 100 degrees in some areas.

06/19/2026

Earlier this week, members of the First Flight team visited Eau Gallie Yacht Club to share important summer safety tips with local children.

From water safety and bicycle/scooter safety to helmet use, hydration, and sunscreen, our crew enjoyed helping young learners build healthy habits that can keep them safe all season long.

As an added bonus, the team even got to meet an adorable otter. 🦦💜

Thank you to Eau Gallie Yacht Club for inviting us to be part of such a fun and educational day!

06/10/2026

Health First's trauma teams are seeing a sharp increase in serious e-bike-related injuries across Brevard County—from concussions and road rash to severe head and brain injuries.

“Awareness has to be raised,” says Mark, who suffered a serious spinal cord injury after losing control of his e-bike. He says his experience has completely changed his perspective, and he hopes others take e-bike safety more seriously before another preventable crash becomes part of someone else’s story.

That concern is echoed by Robert Spivey, Nurse Program Manager for Health First First Flight, who says many of the patients crews are transporting are children and teenagers.

Watch the full segment to hear Mark’s story.⬇️

“We’ve seen a huge increase of our e-bike incidents over the last year and a half,” says Robert Spivey, Nurse Program manager for Health First’s First Flight medical helicopter fleet.

06/05/2026

We all know Stayin' Alive is the classic CPR song, but it's far from the only one with the right beat. 🎵

Hands-Only CPR should be performed at 100–120 compressions per minute, so there are plenty of songs that can help you keep the rhythm.

Know a song that matches the CPR tempo?
👇 Share it in the comments!


If someone collapses:
⚠️Check for danger.
📞 Call 911.
➡️Check pulse and breathing.
➡️If there is no pulse or breathing, place your hands in the center of their chest and push hard and fast to the beat of a familiar song that has 100 to 120 beats per minute.
➡️Keep going until help arrives.

06/01/2026

Let's put our headsets together to proudly celebrate the retirement of Steve Citino. For the past 10 years, Steve has served as a Flight Communications Specialist with Health First Flight.

Before joining Health First, Steve served as a 911 Dispatcher, continuing a lifelong commitment to public safety. Prior to that, he honorably served in the United States Air Force as an Air Traffic Controller for more than 20 years.

Across every chapter of his career—from military service, to emergency communications, to air medical transport—Steve has demonstrated professionalism, reliability, and an unwavering dedication to those he served. His knowledge, calm demeanor, and willingness to support his colleagues have left a lasting impact on everyone fortunate enough to work alongside him.
Steve, we wish you all the best as you begin this exciting new chapter.

May your retirement be filled with happiness, good health, adventure, and the opportunity to enjoy all the things you love most!

05/28/2026

The best way to reduce stroke risk is to understand it. 🧠
While you can’t change things like your age or family history, many other risk factors are manageable with the right care and habits, especially when you work closely with your healthcare provider to monitor and address them.

Take our stroke risk assessment to better understand your risk and learn steps you can take to protect your health: https://ow.ly/eJM850Z57aV