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New helicopter expands Shands' coverage

ShandsCair

ShandsCair, the flight team responsible for transporting critical-condition patients to Shands at the University of Florida, has purchased an EC155 B1 helicopter.

The helicopter cost $13 million. It will be based in Gainesville and will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

With the new helicopter, Shands coverage will expand to all of North Central Florida and Southern Georgia.

As well as being more technologically advanced than the hospital's previous helicopter, the EC155 B1 can hold a bigger crew and transport multiple patients.

Katherine Hahn wrote this story for online. 

Dana is a reporter for WUFT News and can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.