A study examining out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the Greater Paris area has proposed that unmanned drones could enhance the availability and speed of defibrillator delivery to patients in cardiac arrest. Researchers analyzed data from more than 28,000 cardiac events occurring between 2011 and 2024 to assess current accessibility to automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and model potential improvements through drone deployment.
The analysis revealed significant gaps in current coverage. Existing fixed AED locations reached only 30% of the recorded cardiac arrest cases within the standard 500-metre accessibility threshold. To achieve comprehensive coverage using ground-based infrastructure alone would require either 910 additional devices for 84.5% coverage or 1,712 additional units for complete 100% coverage. However, researchers found that incorporating drone delivery systems could dramatically improve outcomes with substantially fewer additional fixed devices needed.
Under modeled scenarios utilizing drones operating within a 3,900-metre radius, the research indicated that 200 drone bases combined with just four additional fixed AEDs could provide coverage to more than 99% of recorded cardiac arrest locations. In simulations where drones were deployed, nearly all cases received defibrillator access within a five-minute window, compared to only 30-40% of cases with current fixed AEDs when accounting for ground transportation. Researchers noted that real-world accessibility to existing public AEDs in France remains limited at approximately 8%, partly because many devices are housed in private enclosed spaces with restricted access.
The modeling exercise considered various drone base locations, including current AED sites, fire stations, and mobile intensive care units. The study has not yet undergone peer review and will be presented at the European Emergency Medicine Congress. Researchers acknowledged that economic feasibility, including drone acquisition costs, requires consideration alongside the clinical benefits when evaluating implementation in actual healthcare systems. Similar drone-delivery approaches for AEDs are already operating in parts of Sweden.
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