In different programmes just started in the United States, the use of drones in emergency situations is being explored.
In Florida, drones are equipped with an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), a tourniquet, and Narcan for emergency situations.
This programme, launched in May, covers a 7-square-mile area and is monitored by drone pilots who receive instructions from emergency medical services dispatchers. As of early July, they have yet to deploy these drones.
Monique Anderson Starks, cardiologist and associate professor of medicine at Duke University, leads pilot studies in Forsyth County and James City County, Virginia to test if drone AED delivery can improve treatment response times.
According to the American Heart Association, over 356,000 people experience cardiac arrests outside of hospitals each year in the US, with most incidents occurring at home and only approximately 10% surviving due to delayed response times.
We’ve never been able to move the needle for cardiac arrest in private settings, and this technology could meet that need
Monique Anderson Starks
Every minute without medical intervention lessens the survival chances by 10%, making rapid response essential.
When time is of the essence
Daniel Crews, a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office in Forsyth County said that the idea of this initiative is for the drones to arrive minutes before the first responders.
Unlike a heart attack, a cardiac arrest occurs when the heart malfunctions, leading it to stop beating typically due to an arrhythmia or electrical problem.
The only treatment for cardiac arrest is CPR and defibrillation, highlighting the importance of quick intervention.
The ultimate goal is to save lives and improve life expectancy for someone experiencing a cardiac episode
Daniel Crews
Similarly, drug overdoses claimed nearly 108,000 lives in the US in 2022, making timely delivery of Narcan crucial for reversing opioid overdoses.
A 2017 study revealed that it takes an average of 7 minutes for an emergency medical services (EMS) unit to arrive on the scene following a 911 call.
Research shows that drones reach the location faster than traditional ambulances in around two-thirds of cases, with an average time advantage of about 3 minutes and 14 seconds (The Lancet, 2023).
These programmes are not only restricted to cardiac arrests and drug overdoses but also explore potential applications for major trauma or drowning rescues.