Emergency care takes flight with drones

We’ve been teased for years with the potential of having our Amazon order or prescription fulfilled in hours through at-home drone delivery.  

However, in Helinski, drones are being explored as potential cardiac first responders, particularly for delivering automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to the scene of a cardiac arrest. This innovative approach could significantly improve response times in emergencies, especially in areas where traditional ambulance services might be delayed due to traffic or distance. 

The deployment of drone-delivered medical devices is not limited to Finland. 

The Netherlands has been a pioneer in using drones for medical services, particularly in the area of emergency medical deliveries. Several initiatives have been launched to integrate drones into the healthcare system, leveraging their speed and ability to bypass traffic to deliver medical supplies and even aid in emergencies. 

Key Projects and Initiatives

Medical Drone Service (MDS):

• • Collaboration: This initiative is a collaboration between the Dutch drone company Avy and ANWB Medical Air Assistance. The project focuses on developing a network of drones that can quickly deliver medical supplies such as blood, medications, and equipment to hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
  • Emergency Response: Drones are also being tested for emergency response scenarios, such as delivering automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to heart attack victims, potentially saving lives by reducing response times. 

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and Flying Forward 2020: 

• •  Smart Cities: The Netherlands is part of the Flying Forward 2020 project, which aims to integrate urban air mobility, including medical drones, into the fabric of smart cities. Eindhoven is one of the pilot cities where these technologies are being tested.
  • Integration with Healthcare: This project is exploring how drones can be integrated into existing healthcare infrastructure, working alongside ambulances and hospitals to provide faster medical support. 

 Medical drone delivery trials: 

• • Amsterdam UMC: Trials have been conducted by Amsterdam UMC (University Medical Centers) to test the feasibility of using drones to transport medical materials between hospital locations.
  • Safety and Regulations: The trials ensure that drone flights comply with aviation regulations and are safe for use in densely populated areas. 

 Impact and future prospects 

• • Improved Response Times: The use of drones for medical services is expected to drastically reduce response times in emergencies, particularly in congested urban areas or remote locations.
  • Regulatory Framework: The success of these projects is heavily dependent on the development of a robust regulatory framework that ensures the safe integration of drones into the airspace.
    Scaling Up: As these projects continue to develop, there is potential for scaling up the use of medical drones across Europe and beyond, creating a new paradigm in emergency healthcare delivery. 

The Netherlands’ proactive approach to integrating drones into the healthcare system could serve as a model for other countries looking to improve emergency medical response and logistics.  

The impact: 

While still in the testing phase in many regions, these Helsinki drones have shown promising results in reducing the time it takes to deliver life-saving equipment, potentially increasing survival rates in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest situations. 

Top deployment considerations and proof of concept: 

1. Purpose: The main goal is to reduce the time it takes to deliver an AED to a cardiac arrest victim. Quick access to defibrillation is crucial for survival in cardiac arrest cases, and drones can potentially arrive faster than ground-based responders. 

1. Pilot projects: Helsinki has been involved in pilot projects where drones are tested for this purpose. These drones are equipped with AEDs and can be dispatched to a location based on a 112 (emergency) call. GPS guides the drones and can often bypass obstacles that would slow down a traditional ambulance. 

1. Response time: Studies and tests in Helsinki have shown that drones can reach patients more quickly than traditional emergency medical services in certain scenarios. For instance, in rural or congested urban areas, the drone’s ability to fly directly to the location is a significant advantage. 

1. Global context: Helsinki is part of a broader trend where various cities and countries are exploring the use of drones in emergency response, including in Sweden, Canada, and as mentioned above, the Netherlands. The results from these pilot projects could inform wider adoption and integration into emergency services.

Deployment hurdles  

For all the promises, drone first responders don’t come without challenges.   

 These include weather conditions, and drone flight regulations in restricted areas, Perhaps the key element to making these deliveries a success is the need for public education on how to use AEDs delivered by drones. It’s great to have a drone arrive in minutes but if the care provider needs to read an instruction manual the improved outcomes can evaporate.