PHOENIX -- Native Air 4 and 14 in Prescott and Prescott Valley recently obtained first responder status, according to a press release.

This will allow pilots to identify safe landing spaces and enables medical crews to begin patient care upon arriving.

"Seconds can make all the difference in saving a life," Flight Paramedic Dani LeMond said in the release. "We're excited to have this important and needed capability to better serve our community."

This will align the Native Air crews in Prescott and Prescott Valley with the air medical bases in Payson, Cottonwood and Williams, which received their first responder status earlier this year.

Ground responders face large service areas that require them to travel long distances. With Native Air, emergency care happens much faster.

"Native Air's capability to land at the scene before our arrival is an invaluable resource for the community," Mayer Fire Department Captain Rudy Armenta said in the release. "This service significantly enhances patient care by providing timely medical attention during critical moments, reducing delays in treatment, and potentially saving lives.

"Whether it's a volunteer agency, a fire department, or another first responder agency, partnerships like these are essential for ensuring rapid and effective emergency care in rural settings."

Native Air will still rely on ground crews to secure landing zones when its unable to locate a safe place to land. The helicopter must be dispatched through 911 or agency request.

The Native Air team is a vital source for hospitals and first responders, providing critical care at any given time. The team responds to emergency medical and trauma events including heart attacks and strokes, burns, and any other critical incidents.

As part of Air Methods, Native Air delivers lifesaving care to more than 100,000 people every year, according to a release.

Native Air 4 recently celebrated 25 years of providing immediate care in the Prescott community.

Air Methods is a leading provider of air medical services and a preferred partner for numerous hospitals, making it one of the largest community-based providers in the industry. Air Methods' fleet includes around 400 helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.