Abstract
Background
Drowning literature have highlighted the submersion time as the most powerful predictor
in assessing the prognosis. Reducing the time taken to provide a flotation device
and prevent submersion appears of paramount importance. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
can provide the location of the swimmer and a flotation device.
Objective
The objective of this simulation study was to evaluate the efficiency of a UAV in
providing a flotation device in different sea conditions, and to compare the times
taken by rescue operations with and without a UAV (standard vs UAV intervention).
Several comparisons were made using professional lifeguards acting as simulated victims.
A specifically-shaped UAV was used to allow us to drop an inflatable life buoy into
the water.
Results
During the summer of 2017, 28 tests were performed. UAV use was associated with a
reduction of time it took to provide a flotation device to the simulated victim compared
with standard rescue operations (p < 0.001 for all measurements) and the time was
reduced even further in moderate (81 ± 39 vs 179 ± 78 s; p < 0.001) and rough sea
conditions (99 ± 34 vs 198 ± 130 s; p < 0.001). The times taken for UAV to locate
the simulated victim, identify them and drop the life buoy were not altered by the
weather conditions.
Conclusion
UAV can deliver a flotation device to a swimmer safely and quickly. The addition of
a UAV in rescue operations could improve the quality and speed of first aid while
keeping lifeguards away from dangerous sea conditions.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 10, 2018
Accepted:
April 9,
2018
Received in revised form:
March 19,
2018
Received:
January 14,
2018
Footnotes
☆A Spanish translated version of the abstract of this article appears as Appendix in the final online version at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resuscitation.2018.04.005.
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
