Automated external defibrillator delivery by drone in mountainous regions to support basic life support - A...

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Robotics
• Public Health

Background:

• Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) has low survival rates.
• Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and early automated external defibrillator (AED) use are critical for survival.
• Remote locations pose challenges for timely emergency medical services access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility of a semi-autonomous drone delivering an AED to a remote location for bystander use.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of drone-delivered AEDs in simulated OHCA scenarios.

Main Methods:

• A field test involving paramedics and laypersons simulating OHCA in a mountainous region.
• A drone was dispatched to GPS coordinates to deliver an AED, supporting ongoing CPR.
• Outcomes measured included AED delivery success, time to first shock, hands-off intervals, and CPR performance.

Main Results:

• The drone successfully delivered AEDs in all 29 scenarios without adverse events.
• Median drone flight time was 5:20 minutes.
• Paramedics initiated the first shock at a mean of 12:15 min; laypersons at 14:04 min. Participants reported confidence in AED handling.

Conclusions:

• Drone-based AED delivery is feasible in remote areas, potentially improving response times.
• This innovative approach can facilitate earlier defibrillation for OHCA patients.
• Further research can optimize drone deployment for emergency medical services.