Scottish Ambulance Service starts vital research as part of Project CAELUS
The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has carried out vital research with members of the public to test how drones can be used in cardiac arrests. SAS, a key partner in Project CAELUS, did the study in late July to better understand the feasibility of delivering an Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) via drone technology.
It explored the protocols required to support call handlers in navigating bystanders to a drone during simulated scenarios of Out of Hospital Cardiac (OHCA) arrests. Every year over 8000 people in Scotland have an OHCA arrest.
During each simulated OHCA scenario, a group of participants were given instructions through telephone compared to another group of participants were given video assisted guidance to retrieve a nearby drone-delivered AED. This study is building on existing research domestically and internationally, to better understand how drones could be used by an Ambulance Service in the future.
SAS carry out simulation study as part of national drone project
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Michael Dickson, Chief Executive, Scottish Ambulance ServiceThe entire health service, including here at SAS, is always looking at ways to innovate and find new ways of providing life-saving care. Drone delivery of AEDs to Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests (OHCA) is being investigated in several parts of the world, especially looking at how this could be used at remote and rural areas or areas of extreme urban congestion. This study will provide us with additional evidence to assess if drones could provide value to the Scottish Ambulance Service in the future. This innovative scheme has the potential to benefit communities across Scotland, including those in remote and rural areas. We look forward to working with our partners at AGS and the CAELUS project on developing it further.