Drones could save lives
5,000–10,000 people in Finland die from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year. Drones equipped with automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to the scene of emergency situations could save lives. A trial run is now underway in Helsinki to test the delivery of an AED.
The innovation company Forum Virium Helsinki is coordinating the pilot, which is carried out by Swedish drone operator Everdrone, as part of the "carbon neutral drone service solutions in southern Finland" project funded by the European regional development fund.
For the first time ever, a drone delivering an AED will be operated from another country. During the pilot, the drone will be operated from Everdrone Mission Control Centre in the Gothenburg region (Sweden), with a safety operator on-site monitoring the operations in the Finnish capital. (ah)