Emergency helicopter landings to disappear

With Sarasota Memorial Hospital becoming certified as a trauma hospital May 1, the way Longboat Key treats its trauma patients is changing.

Both ends of the island are now served by a trauma hospital because trauma patients on the north end of the island are already served by Blake Hospital in Bradenton, which also has trauma certification.

“Nowhere else has a trauma hospital on both ends of their community,” said Longboat Key Fire Rescue Chief Paul Dezzi.

It also means that in most instances, helicopter landings on the Key for emergency trauma transportation to trauma hospitals that are farther away will disappear for the most part.

“We’ll still call for a helicopter if traffic is backed up in season,” Dezzi said. “But that’s the only time you’ll see helicopters on the island.”

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].