LifeNet Arizona 8 Receives First Responder Status

Emergency air medical base gains designation that gets patients to hospitals faster

WILLCOX, AZ, July 20, 2026 - Patients in southeastern Arizona may now receive emergency air medical care faster because Willcox-based LifeNet Arizona 8 recently obtained first responder status. This means that when they are called to the scene of an emergency by 911 dispatch or a Sheriff's or fire department, the pilot can identify a safe place to land the helicopter and the medical crew can begin patient care before other responders arrive. Prior to receiving this designation, the crew had to remain in the air until first responders on the ground secured a landing zone.

"First responder status allows our crews to safely reach patients faster than ground EMS units in remote or rural areas," said Jenn Culbert, account executive with Air Methods, the nation's leading air medical service and parent company of LifeNet Arizona. "When every minute counts, this ability allows us to do our job to its fullest."

In order to obtain first responder status, LifeNet had to demonstrate a need, develop a plan to reduce any risk associated with landing a helicopter in an unsecured area, train its pilots and flight crews on how to identify a suitable landing zone without the benefit of ground support, and educate ground crews in the service area on how to approach a scene when an aircraft is already on site.

As ground ambulance companies face pressures ranging from staffing shortages to large service areas that require them to travel long distances, granting air medical providers the ability to arrive on the scene first is a benefit to the entire emergency response system.

"The partnership between ground and air emergency resources is crucial in providing patients with the best possible care," said North County EMS Chief Anthony Kugler. "The closest Level 1 trauma center is in Tucson, which may be an hour and a half away by ground. In situations where time is of the essence, it is critical that patients get in the air as quickly as possible."

LifeNet crews will still rely on ground responders to secure landing zones when they are unable to locate a safe place to land from the air or when potential hazards need to be cleared. Additionally, other emergency responders must be en route to the scene, and the helicopter must still be dispatched through a 911 or agency request. No air medical team is permitted to self-dispatch in any situation.

On every transport mission, the LifeNet clinical team carries whole blood and can administer it in flight if needed, positively increasing patient outcomes through pre-hospital care. The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems (CAMTS) - the highest standard in safety, clinical practice, quality assurance, and training in the industry. Air Methods is committed to providing air medical services to all members of the communities they serve and is in-network with most major health insurance providers for emergency air medical services. Additionally, their patient advocacy program works with all patients, regardless of insurance, to ensure affordability.