Defibrillators on UAVs

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According to WHO,
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause (number 1) of death globally accounting for about 30% of global deaths annually. As at 2016, it claimed the lives of 17.9 million people and the figure is still on the rise.
Disturbingly, 85% of these deaths are due to heart attacks and strokes.

A heart attack also known as myocardial infarction occurs when the flow of blood to the heart and/or brain is obstructed. The most common reason for the obstruction is the build-up of cholesterol and fatty deposits (plaques) on the inner walls of the blood vessels that supply the heart or brain.

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The rate of survival from heart attacks is low, especially in developing and rural areas where enlightenment about the condition and facilities are poor. Lots of procedures have been put in place to increase the chances of survival;

Awareness program to enlighten people about its causes, symptoms and what to do if they find another person in such situation.
Calling the universal emergency number applicable such as 911-USA, 997-Nigeria.
Carrying out cardiopulmonary resuscitation popular known as CPR on the victim.
Using a portable automated external defibrillators (AED) which are usually available in many places including hotels, airports and malls. It can also be purchased alongside the first aid box used at home.

With the availability of these options, there is still a large gap that needs to be filled to increase survival rate as the situation can arise anytime and anywhere and access to these methods or skilled individuals are limited.

Defibrillators on Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

Technology has been proving overtime that it is the future and is advancing everyday. Since the advent of UAVs popularly known as drones, a lot of things have been made easier, safer and faster. Lots of indiviuals and industries are now in the use of drones from Explorers and Photographers, Movie industry, Security, Police on rescue missions especially in the case of natural disasaters, Scientists using them as biological and environmental sensors, e-commerce industries in delivery services and sadly, in the Military as weapons.

Now, the drones have led to another breakthrough in the health sector by using them. The drones can deliver an AED to the location needed or be the AED itself.

German non-profit company, Definetz created the concept Defikopter to deliver a portable AED to heart attack victims in remote and rural areas. If it's within its six-mile range, the drone will respond when summoned by anyone with the smartphone app. It uses GPS coordinates from the phone to get to the victim's location and can travel up to 70km/h. The drone will then land or drop a defibrillator attached to a parachute down to an emergency responder or someone with the victim.
Alec Momont, a graduate student at Delft University of Technology, Netherland also designed an ambulance drone that provides a professional response within a single minute. The drone can reach a speed of 100km/h.

With these ideas, cardiac arrest survival rate could definitely increase to as much as 80%.

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