Flirtey, a start-up that has used drones to deliver pizzas, Slurpees, and other commercial items, is looking to step into a new field, with the goal of saving lives. Working in Nevada with REMSA Health, the company is intending to provide support for emergency services by coordinating the dispatch of drones carrying portable defibrillators. “We’re starting in Northern Nevada because the state is an FAA-approved drone test site,” Flirtey CEO Matthew Sweeny told CNBC. To be sent whenever a 911 caller reports a possible case of cardiac arrest, the drones are expected to allow for more rapid response, as they won’t have to deal with traffic conditions.
On arrival at their destination, the drones will lower a defibrillator on a line, allowing anyone in the area to unbox it and apply the pads to the patient. Sensors within the pads will perform readings, and either prompts will be provided to the user to trigger the electrical shock, or the system will deploy the shock itself after a brief warning. These portable defibrillators weigh only 5 pounds, and are designed to be used by even those without formal medical training.
“Many communities have done a good job of deploying defibrillators, so you will have them on airplanes, in some office buildings and schools and so on. Yet they’re not always within reach. At the same time, every minute someone suffers cardiac arrest without some intervention like CPR or an electrical shock, their chance of survival dips 10 percent,” J.W. Hodge, chief of operation for health care at REMSA told CNBC.
Source:
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/10/10/watch-flirtey-and-remsa-deliver-defibrillators-by-drone-to-911-callers.html
