Air Ambulance Visit Brings Lifesaving Lessons to Sunrise Elementary Students

Under a clear, crisp Friday sky, sixth graders at Sunrise Elementary School in Palm Bay eagerly gathered outside their classrooms.

 

They watched in awe as the Health First First Flight Air Ambulance descended onto their school grounds.

 

This event marked the beginning of a hands-on water safety and emergency response program.

 

Organized by Aquatics & Education, the initiative received support from Palm Bay Fire Rescue, Health First, and Brevard Public Schools.

 

The First Flight crew provided students with a real-world demonstration of emergency response systems.

 

This initiative, in partnership with Every Child A Swimmer, aims to equip students with age-appropriate, evidence-based water safety education and emergency response skills through interactive learning experiences.

 

Brooke Bothun, CEO of Aquatics & Education, highlighted the urgency of such programs.

 

Florida leads the nation in childhood drowning deaths, with 119 fatalities reported in 2025, including five in Brevard County.

 

Bothun emphasized that drowning incidents are swift, silent, and preventable.

 

Many children and families lack exposure to critical, life-saving skills such as recognizing aquatic distress, activating emergency response systems, and understanding the fundamentals of hands-only CPR.

 

By bringing first responders, emergency medical professionals, and water safety advocates together, this initiative emphasizes prevention before an emergency occurs and equips students with actionable knowledge that extends beyond the pool and into everyday life.

 

This effort reflects a shared community responsibility to educate, empower, and protect our youngest residents through awareness and early prevention.

 

Together, we can strengthen our collective approach to water safety and make a lasting impact on the well-being of children and families throughout Brevard County.

 

Dr. Larissa Dudley, medical director for both First Flight and Palm Bay Fire Rescue, as well as the Holmes Regional Medical Center Emergency Department, underscored the importance of early education.

 

It's very important to teach these kids as early as possible the value of learning to swim, safety procedures, and how to help if they encounter someone in distress.

 

Partnering with Aquatics & Education provides not only swim safety during the summer months but also hands-on CPR training during the winter months when it's too cold to practice swimming.

 

This approach ensures that children are prepared to assist in emergencies year-round.

 

On a colder day like today in January, we're focusing on CPR and how to resuscitate someone in need.

 

In addition to hands-on lifesaving skills, students learned the importance of communicating effectively with 911 dispatchers, emphasizing the need to share their location clearly and accurately.

 

John Ringleb, Assistant Chief of Palm Bay Fire Rescue, highlighted the value of community engagement.

 

Anytime we have an opportunity to get into the schools to teach safety, EMS procedures, or CPR, we also build connections between the schools and the fire department.

 

Kids go home and talk to their parents about seeing a helicopter or a fire truck, helping us bridge the community together piece by piece.

 

Events like this allow us to address multiple aspects of community education simultaneously.

 

By integrating practical demonstrations with interactive learning, the program aims to instill a sense of responsibility and preparedness in students, ensuring they are equipped to handle emergencies both in and out of the water.

 

Through collaborative efforts, the community is taking proactive steps to reduce preventable incidents and safeguard the lives of its youngest members.