Hartford HealthCare Celebrates LIFE STAR – 40 Years of Life-Saving Care in the Air
LIFE STAR Patient Shares Remarkable Story of Survival
May 29, 2025 | Yesterday, Hartford HealthCare hosted a special celebration at Hartford Hospital to honor LIFE STAR’s 40 years of dedicated service—four decades of critical care transport and life-saving missions across Connecticut and the region.
Since its first flight in 1985, LIFE STAR has been a critical part of Connecticut’s emergency response system, providing rapid air transport for critically ill and injured patients when every second counts.
Over the years, LIFE STAR has continually advanced its capabilities. LIFE STAR was the first in the state to carry blood products on board, enabling in-flight transfusions for patients with life-threatening traumatic injuries.
LIFE STAR also partners with Hartford HealthCare’s Heart and Vascular Institute to deliver “ECMO-on-the-go”—a groundbreaking service where a team of specialists administers ECMO (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) during transport. This advanced procedure oxygenates the blood externally, allowing damaged hearts and lungs to rest and heal.
To date, LIFE STAR crews have completed more than 50,000 patient transports, often working hand-in-hand with first responders to deliver expert care in the most urgent situations.
Yesterday’s event featured a powerful story from a patient who survived a “widow-maker” heart attack, sharing his incredible journey aboard LIFE STAR.
The evening also included the unveiling of a special art installation honoring the legacy and impact of LIFE STAR.