Cardiac arrest is a severe medical emergency where the heart suddenly stops beating, requiring immediate intervention. Timely use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) can be crucial for survival.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have found that drones equipped with AEDs can reach patients experiencing cardiac arrest quicker than ambulances, potentially saving more lives.
Published in “The Lancet Digital Health,” this study followed the deployment of AED-equipped drones in parts of Sweden. The drones were dispatched simultaneously with ambulances to cases of suspected cardiac arrest.
In more than half of these cases, the drone arrived an average of three minutes before the ambulance. This time advantage allowed bystanders to use the AED on the patient in many instances, even before medical professionals arrived.
Impact on Survival Rates
Each year, around 6,000 people in Sweden suffer sudden cardiac arrests, but only about 10% survive. A quick response with an AED significantly improves survival chances.
This study showed that in real-life scenarios, drones could be alerted, arrive, and deliver AEDs effectively. In cases where actual cardiac arrest occurred, the AED delivered by drone was used in a third of the incidents, demonstrating its practicality and potential to save lives.
A Game-Changer in Emergency Response
This research conclusively shows that drone delivery of AEDs is not only feasible but can significantly cut down the time to provide life-saving aid in cardiac arrests.
By bridging the crucial minutes before an ambulance arrives, drone-delivered AEDs can play a vital role in increasing survival rates from sudden cardiac arrests.
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The research findings can be found in The Lancet Digital Health.
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