Study suggests drones could speed delivery of defibrillators for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests

Researchers say that deploying drones to deliver automated external defibrillators could shorten the interval between a cardiac arrest occurring outside a hospital and the arrival of life‑saving equipment. The suggestion stems from a new study that examined how the technology might improve out‑of‑hospital access to defibrillators.

The study notes that in the United Kingdom more than 30,000 out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrests are attended each year by emergency medical services, according to the British Heart Foundation, yet fewer than one in ten individuals survive, and some survivors experience neurological complications.

The researchers propose that drone delivery could reduce response times and potentially increase survival rates for out‑of‑hospital cardiac arrests.