Mercyhealth's REACT helicopter, based in Rockford, Illinois, provides advanced helicopter transport medicine for the most critically ill and injured patients across northern Illinois, southern Wisconsin and eastern Iowa. Our REACT helicopter transports patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This helps provide rapid access to lifesaving care when time, specialized skills or specialized resources are crucial to a patient’s outcome or survival.
On board the REACT helicopter is a pilot, critical care flight nurse and critical care flight paramedic. Led by a board certified emergency medicine doctor, the medical crew has extensive training and experience in the care of critically ill or injured patients, including moms and babies in a high-risk pregnancy, as well as children.
REACT helicopter transport program
For emergency dispatch, call 800.637.3228.
Our highly skilled critical care nurses and paramedics bring the Mercyhealth standard of care to patients in need, from neonatal to adult.
- Mercyhealth REACT carries packed red blood cells and plasma on all critical care transports, air and ground.
- Mercyhealth REACT is affiliated with two trauma centers: Javon Bea Hospital-Riverside and Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center in Janesville, Wisconsin.
- As a division of the Mercyhealth Prehospital and Emergency Services Center, Mercyhealth REACT has full access to the latest medical technology, prehospital research, experienced medical direction and simulation training.
With just one call to the Mercyhealth RockCom Communication Center, you can arrange transport for your patient. Within minutes, Mercyhealth REACT crews can be en route.
Public event visits and hangar tours
Community interaction is important not just to Mercyhealth REACT as an organization but to every REACT Partner. Our Partners take pride in the communities they serve and are always looking to be involved in the form of educational lectures, base tours, local safety awareness days and more.
If you are interested in having REACT at your event or taking a tour of our beautiful bases, complete this form.
Tour options
- Each year, Mercyhealth REACT participates in many events, including mock crashes, safety days, public safety department open houses, and many more. While we can’t attend every event, we do evaluate each request and try to participate in as many as possible.
- Mercyhealth REACT welcomes the community to reach out to learn more about our organization and operations.
- Regrettably, REACT cannot attend events such as visits to schools, daycares, church events, and scouting events. In cases such as these we encourage the organizations to consider a hangar tour.
Hangar tours (which take about 25 minute) at Mercyhealth Hospital-Rockton Avenue in Rockford, IL, can be provided for the following:
- Preschools
- Cub Scouts or Girl Scouts
- Elementary/middle schools
- Low attendance events
- Non-emergency medical service-related events
Please complete our contact us form. Thank you!
Important Reminders
- Mercyhealth REACT values community interaction. Safety remains our top priority, and your help is appreciated in this process. Make sure your form is complete with the needed information before submitting so the scheduling process can be expedited for you.
- If you are not sure of the eligibility for REACT’s aircraft to attend your event, please feel free to complete the Request Form anyway. Someone will be in contact with you to confirm and verify the information.
- To ensure proper time to review and approve your submitted information, a 14-day notice is required by REACT. If your event falls within that 14-day window, your information can be submitted and will be reviewed, but may not be approved in time for the event. Our outreach coordinator will contact you either way.