Drone Emergency Response – Future Of First Responders?

“Drones were consistently quicker to the scene than emergency response services…”

By, Robert Box

Home delivery of parcels by drone is quickly becoming reality. Could drone emergency first response also become reality?

Researchers think so – at least they believe drones delivering automated external defibrillators (AEDs) can save lives. This could be a welcomed technology for industries that employ remote workers in rural areas.

Time is a critical factor when it comes to victims who are in cardiac arrest. The longer it takes before a victim is shocked with an AED, the less likely it is for that victim to survive.

The American Heart Association’s goal for early defibrillation in the hospital and ambulatory clinics is for the shock to be delivered within three minutes of the victim’s collapse, if possible. The American Red Cross says, “For each minute defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival reduces by approximately 10%.”

The American Red Cross goes on to say, “The average response time for first responders once 911 is called is (currently) 8-12 minutes.”

Swedish researchers say AEDs delivered by drones were consistently quicker to the scene than emergency response services according to a research letter published in The Journal of the American Medical Association last week. The study spanned eight years in rural Sweden and yielded some astonishing results.

The median response time was roughly 16.5 minutes quicker by drone, according to the letter, and the median time for dispatch to launch a drone was three seconds compared with emergency response crews taking three minutes to get rolling.

This all sounds promising, but as the researchers say in the letter, more research needs to be performed before AED-equipped drones will be seen flying to the rescue because, “We know nothing about bystander interaction,” says the lead researcher.

What Lies Ahead?

Drone technology could one day be of significant assistance, particularly to remote workers in such industries as construction and oil and gas. AEDs delivered by drone may soon be a reality, but what might be on the horizon?

OSHA says response time for emergency response needs to be quick for employers. According to a letter of interpretation authored by OSHA, the employer must ensure all workers have reasonable accessibility to an infirmary, clinic, hospital, physician, or someone trained in CPR/First Aid.

However, if the employer is within three or four minutes from the time an emergency 911 call is made and an ambulance or fire department can respond, no further provisions for emergency medical care need to be established by the employer.

The delivery of an AED would not, by itself, satisfy OSHA’s requirements because someone would need to be trained in CPR, First Aid and AED use. However, it is conceivable that, along with an AED and first aid supplies, a drone could deliver a healthcare provider’s advice and direction via touchpad or other drone-mounted interface.

Another possibility might be a drone ambulance that could carry the victim to the nearest care facility. For example, when the victim is loaded onto the drone, AED pads and a CPR machine put in place to deliver compressions, oxygen and shocks at prescribed intervals to the victim during a quick trip to the emergency care.

Robert Box is the owner of Safety First Consulting and is an exclusive contributor with SM Corridor News. Box helps businesses identify OSHA compliance issues in their workplaces, manage their safety programs and become accountable for the results. In addition to offering custom written safety programs for companies, Safety First Consulting provides required safety training, industrial hygiene sampling, noise sampling and workplace inspections. You can read more from Robert Box under Business.