In the United States, fewer than one in ten people survives a cardiac arrest outside the hospital. Rapid access to a defibrillator can be lifesaving, yet in many cases emergency services simply arrive too late. A pioneering U.S. study, led by Duke Health and coordinated by the Duke Clinical Research Institute, is now testing whether drones can bridge that critical time gap. For the first time, drones equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) are being dispatched during real 911 calls.
The clinical trial, launched in Forsyth County, North Carolina, deploys a drone the moment a cardiac arrest call comes in. While EMS crews are simultaneously sent to the scene, the drone takes off, flies autonomously to the patient’s location and lowers the AED to the ground. Dispatchers then guide bystanders through retrieving and using the device. The system aims to reduce AED delivery times to under five minutes for at least half the local population, potentially boosting survival rates dramatically.
EMS responses
Research shows that defibrillation within 2–3 minutes can raise survival to 70%, but traditional EMS responses often take 8 to 10 minutes. “By integrating drone technology into emergency care, we aim to close that deadly gap,” says principal investigator Dr. Monique Starks of Duke University.
The study builds on existing drone operations within the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office and includes partners such as the American Heart Association, Emory University, the University of Washington and James City County, Virginia. Extensive drills between telecommunicators and drone pilots ensure seamless coordination during emergencies.
Transformative potential
Local emergency leaders emphasize the transformative potential. “When seconds matter, this technology helps us reach people faster than ever before,” says Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough Jr. Others highlight the impact for rural or underserved communities, where emergency response times are often longer.
The trial will inform the design of a broader, multi-center randomized study, assessing effectiveness, cost and scalability across different regions. While drones will not replace traditional emergency systems, they may become an essential extension, delivering lifesaving equipment directly into the hands of bystanders in the most critical moments.
This initiative marks a shift from drones as logistical tools to drones as essential components of next-generation emergency care, powered by AI-driven navigation and real-time coordination.
