Can drones save lives as flying first responders?

The research group led by Dr Christopher M. Smith, Clinical Lecturer in Emergency Medicine at the University of Warwick, has demonstrated that drones can fill a critical gap in emergency situations: they can reach the scene significantly faster than emergency services – reliably, autonomously, and safely. The work was done in partnership with Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, and that it was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Health and Care Research Wales (HCRW).

The tests included flights beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) for the first time and simulated real emergency calls: a drone took off automatically after an alarm was raised, maintained radio contact with the control center, and transmitted its location in real time.

The results show that the technology is ready for use. The system works with technical precision and can deliver defibrillators to where they are needed in the shortest possible time.

But the real insight is greater: it is not speed alone that saves lives, but integration into existing rescue structures. The University of Warwick project shows that this is indeed possible: the drone communicates with the emergency call center, whose staff guide the rescuers on the phone when to approach the drone and how to use the defibrillator. This means that it is not seen as a foreign element, but as an active part of the rescue chain – a new link between the emergency call and the ambulance.

As impressive as the technology is, it alone cannot save lives. The Warwick study showed that valuable time is lost not during the flight, but after landing. Once the defibrillator was on site, many first responders hesitated to use it. In the stressful situation, they lacked orientation, and communication with the control center was often overwhelming – for example, due to ambient noise or conflicting instructions.

Other countries are already demonstrating that it works: in Sweden and Denmark, drones are actively used in emergency services. There, they deliver defibrillators to real emergencies – in some cases with success stories that have made headlines around the world.

In the UK, the transition from experimentation to implementation is imminent. The biggest obstacle is no longer technology, but regulation.

In order for drones to be allowed to take off as standard in the future, approvals are needed for unplanned flights beyond visual line of sight. Strict regulations currently prevent them from taking off automatically in an emergency.

At the same time, scientific planning continues using data from the UK's National Cardiac Arrest Register (OHCAO project at the University of Warwick), the Warwick team is modeling where drone stations would be most useful – i.e., where rescue times are currently longest. This data-based location logic is crucial for efficiently embedding the system into emergency care.

The vision is clear: drones could be the missing link between emergency calls and first aid – a link that turns seconds into survival. But research also shows that speed alone is not enough. Only when the technology is embedded in the human rescue chain can it reach its full potential.

In the future, the same systems could also transport blood reserves, medication, or sensors – turning the air into a new supply route in healthcare.

Perhaps one day, drones will be as much a part of the rescue system as defibrillators themselves – and that is when the future of emergency medicine will begin.