Researchers in Britain are studying whether drones could help deliver defibrillators to people suffering cardiac arrests outside hospitals. The idea is to get life-saving equipment to emergency scenes faster, particularly in situations where traditional ambulance response times may be longer.
A defibrillator can deliver an electrical shock in certain types of cardiac arrest and may help restore a normal heart rhythm. Because treatment can become less effective as time passes, rapid access to a defibrillator can be extremely important.
The proposed drone system would not replace ambulances or emergency medical crews. Instead, drones could potentially transport the equipment ahead of emergency responders, allowing somebody at the scene to begin treatment sooner.
Researchers are continuing to assess how the system might work in real-world conditions. Issues such as weather, battery life, navigation and the safe delivery of equipment all have to be considered.
The research could eventually give emergency services another way to respond to cardiac emergencies. For communities in rural or difficult-to-reach areas, faster access to medical equipment could be particularly valuable.
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