Possibilities of Using UAVs in Pre-Hospital Security for Medical Emergencies

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Aug 29;19(17):10754. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191710754.

Abstract

The term unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was post-applied in the 1980s to describe remotely piloted multi-purpose, unmanned, autonomous aircraft. The terms unmanned aircraft systems with data terminal connectivity (UAS) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPV, RPAS-military systems) are also used. This review aims to analyze the feasibility of using UAVs to support emergency medical systems in the supply and urgent care ranges. The implementation of drones in the medical security system requires proper planning of service cooperation, division of the area into sectors, assessment of potential risks and opportunities, and legal framework for the application. A systematic literature search was conducted to assess the applicability based on published scientific papers on possible medical drone applications in the field of urgent mode. The widespread applications of UAVs in healthcare are concerned with logistics, scope, and transportability, with framework legal constraints to effectively exploit opportunities for improving population health, particularly for costly critical situations.

Keywords: costs; disaster management; drones; emergency medical services; medical security; security.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aircraft
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Emergencies*
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Military Personnel*

Grants and funding

This research received no external funding.