Work of Designer-in-Residence concludes with successful test flight of drone delivery of life-saving AED
"While the capital costs might be quite high, the cost savings in lives saved and disability, that’s huge.” - Dr. Glenn Curtin.
Simulation test using drones to deliver life-saving automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is a success.
A new pilot project that uses drones to bring life-saving cardiac equipment quickly to patients who suffer heart attacks at home took a step closer to being rolled out, following a successful simulation flight.
The project is spearheaded by The Digital Hub’s Designer-in-Residence, Dr Glenn Curtin, who is a trained medical doctor and has focused on how to get automated external defibrillators (AEDs) rapidly to people in cardiac arrest. He considered other methods of transport, including bicycles, before settling on drones.
Dr. Curtin has been The Digital Hub’s first ever Designer-in-Residence and over the past six months he has focused his research on cardiac arrest response. Through responding to real-life cardiac arrests in the community in Dublin city, supplemented by in-depth interviews with bystanders, community first responders, paramedics, and doctors, Glenn saw that the lack of available Automated External Defibrillators – or AEDs – was an issue.
Dr. Curtin has brought together each stakeholder including Manna Drone Delivery, The Digital Hub and Emergency Services to prototype Ireland’s first Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) drone delivery service.
A simulation flight was conducted on Friday 6th December when a defibrillator was carried from Manna’s hub in Blanchardstown to an address in a housing estate nearby, about 10 minutes’ drive away. The drone, which has a range of about 20km, brought the defibrillator to the house, dropping it safely into the back garden, in around two minutes. That allowed the Community First Responder to use the defibrillator on the fictitious patient – a 74-year-old man – who recovered and was subsequently brought to hospital.
Further simulation studies are expected to take place in January, with Dr. Curtin hoping to have the pilot programme in place from early in 2025.
If you are interested in collaborating on similar projects or for further information, email info@thedigitalhub.com.
AuthorDigital Hub Team