Lifeflight Foundation

LifeFlight, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization, is Maine's only statewide emergency air medical service. We are Maine’s flying hospital, bringing ICU-level care to patients throughout the state, regardless of their ability to pay. LifeFlight's vision for Maine is a place in which every person, in every community, has access to critical care and medical transport when they need it. We do this by working with our EMS partners to transform the critical care transport medicine system into an integrated, high quality, patient-centered system worthy of the public's trust.

We serve approximately 1600 patients every year. Since our founding in 1998, we have treated and transported more than 20,000 ill or injured people; improved Maine's aviation infrastructure with helipads, remote landing zones and advanced weather and GPS equipment; and absorbed the cost of care for the uninsured and underinsured who cannot pay--generally 20% of our patients. Whether responding to an accident or transporting a patient to a major medical facility, the quick response from a LifeFlight helicopter and critical care team often means the difference between life and death. LifeFlight also offers education and training programs in advanced critical care hundreds of EMS and hospital professionals throughout Maine, providing them with essential skills that save lives.

In 2015, LifeFlight added an airplane to its fleet of two ground ambulances and two helicopters. The campaign to purchase a third helicopter is in its final stages, which will help close the gap between flight requests and flights we are able to complete. Last year, there were 267 flights we are unable to accept because we were already helping other people. The need is great.