Drones are delivering life-saving defibrillators to 911 calls
When they’re not distracting the public or grounding firefighting planes, drones have some pretty solid uses. Aside from unnecessarily fast same-day deliveries, unmanned aircraft could soon become a vital emergency response tool. A collaborative team of health experts, community organizations and universities is in the midst of a pilot program using drones and automated external defibrillators (AEDs). Led by Duke Health and the Duke Clinical Research Institute, EMS responders are now deploying AED drones for select 911 calls in Forsyth County, North Carolina.
Why is cardiac arrest so serious?
More than 350,000 people suffer cardiac arrest each year in the United States. When this happens, time is of the essence and AEDs are essential to saving lives. Each device includes external sensors that adhere to the patient’s chest to monitor their heart. At the appropriate time, the electrodes deliver a shock of moderately high voltage (usually between 200 and 1,000 volts) to readjust and regulate the heart rate. Modern AEDs are designed to be used with minimal experience and often include a speaker in the center unit to verbally give appropriate instructions.
Although 90 percent of patients survive if an AED is administered within the first minute, such a rapid response is often out of the question unless a patient is already in a healthcare facility. The American Red Cross estimates that more than 70 percent of all cardiac arrests occur at home, with the chance of survival decreasing by about 10 percent for each additional minute of delayed AED application. The national average for EMS response times is about seven minutes, but in rural areas the delay can often extend to 13 minutes.
Unlike an ambulance or fire truck, a low-flying drone is not subject to traffic delays or winding streets. Researchers like Monique Starks of Duke University School of Medicine suspect that deploying drones in collaboration with EMS workers could offer the opportunity to provide faster AED deliveries.
“This study represents a major advance in how we respond to cardiac arrest in the United States,” Starks said in a statement. “By integrating drone technology into emergency care, we are working to bridge the critical gap between cardiac arrest and treatment, which could potentially save thousands of lives.” »
Addition to emergency response
It is important to note that the trial does not change any existing 911 response protocols. When EMS is dispatched to the scene, a pilot deploys and remotely guides a drone flying 200 feet above the ground to the same address. If it arrives before first responders, the drone descends 100 feet and lowers the AED via a winch strap. At this point, a 911 dispatcher can guide a bystander step-by-step in using the device on the person in need.
“They won’t replace traditional response systems, but they can augment them by putting life-saving equipment in the hands of bystanders when it matters most,” added Betsy Sink, James City County Emergency Medical Services Battalion Chief. “This project allows us to better understand how far this innovation can go to improve survival and will shape the future of emergency medicine.” »
The pilot program also includes James City County, Virginia, but could expand to more areas depending on the overall outcome.
“This project lays the foundation for what we hope will become a large, multicenter, randomized clinical trial,” said Joseph Ornato, professor of emergency medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University and co-leader of the study. “This future research will help us understand critical questions about the effectiveness of this system, its cost, and how we can get AEDs to people as quickly as possible, whether they live in a city or a rural community.” »
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