Medical Disaster Drone Showcases Lifesaving Capabilities

New ambulance drones can support victims and rescue personnel during mass shootings, bombings, or other terrorist attacks.

Developed at the William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM; Hattiesburg, MS, USA), the new drones are part of the ongoing Health Integrated Rescue Operations (HiRO) telemedical drone project. The ambulance drones are designed to carry telemedical packages to operators in adverse conditions, providing immediate and secure access to a physician on the other end of the screen to provide guidance amidst the chaos and confusion of a disaster situation. The telemedical packages can treat up to 100 people with significant to minor injuries.


To do so, the critical care kit includes Google Glass, which allows the wearer to be hands free and to move away from the drone while still maintaining audio and visual contact with the physician, who can provide simple, direct, and user friendly guidance to empower the provider and bystanders to save lives. The technology debuted in a simulated mass casualty scenario held during December 2016 at John Bell Airport (Bolton, MS, USA), before an audience that included Mississippi state governor Phil Bryant and representatives from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal law enforcement agencies, and the United Nations.

“Reaching the victims is the critical challenge in these situations. As an osteopathic physician, my goal was to find ways to help save lives. A medical drone is the bridge that delivers life-saving treatment directly to the victims, giving remote physicians eyes, ears, and voice to instruct anyone on site,” said drone co-developer Italo Subbarao, DO, senior associate dean at WCUCOM, an expert in disaster and emergency medicine.

“These drones have impressive lift and distance capability, and can be outfitted with a variety of sensors, such as infrared, to help locate victims,” said Dennis Lott, director of the unmanned aerial vehicle program at Hinds Community College (Raymond, MS, USA). “Working together, we're able to develop, test, and bring this technology to the field. It is just a matter of time before the drones are universally adopted for emergency and disaster response toolkits.”

Related Links:
William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hinds Community College