Drone-delivery of an Automated External Defibrillator in Mountainous Areas

The availability of an automated external defibrillator (AED) minutes after onset can increase the outcome of a cardiac arrest. Visitors of tourist mountainous and remote areas such as national parks or ski resorts have increased in number and are more frequently of older age with a higher risk for cardiac arrest. Patients in these areas who otherwise would not be reachable in a reasonable time could be helped by the early availability of an AED if delivered by alternate means such as a drone.

Can unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) reduce the time to start treatment in case of cardiac arrest in mountain rescue missions by delivering an AED through automated flight in mountainous areas under extreme environmental conditions with a reduced carbon footprint?

We aim to demonstrate an earlier start of treatment of cardiac arrest in mountainous areas through drone delivered AED with a limited ecological footprint.

1. Develop a fully functional UAS device capable of automated delivery of an AED in extreme environments through laboratory testing.
2. A prospective field trial demonstrating reduced time of automated drone-delivered AEDs versus conventional ways of AED delivery.
3. Describe and compare the carbon footprint of different transport modalities in remote locations.