Tampa, Fla. (BLOOM) – Tampa General Hospital, in partnership with Florida’s Manatee County and Archer First Response Systems, has announced a groundbreaking program that uses drone technology to deliver lifesaving emergency equipment to 911 callers.
The program, set to launch May 1, aims to improve response times for health-related emergencies in the Manatee County coverage area.
Tampa General President and CEO John Couris emphasized the transformative potential of the initiative.
“Through the use of technology and innovation, Tampa General Hospital is transforming health care,” Couris said. “This first-in-the-nation program can effectively save lives by responding to health-related emergencies faster than ever before.”
The program will deploy drones carrying automated external defibrillators (AEDs), naloxone nasal spray and tourniquets, providing quick access to lifesaving equipment for emergency situations. The goal is to enhance survival rates for cardiac arrests, opioid overdoses and trauma-related injuries.
Gordon Folkes, founder and CEO of ArcherFRS, highlighted the importance of this innovative approach.
“Sudden cardiac arrest, opioid overdose and trauma impact hundreds of thousands of people in the United States each year; there is a real need for a paradigm shift in the treatment and response to these time-critical emergencies,” Folkes said. “Unmanned aircraft provide a unique utility in their ability to fly quickly and directly to the scene of an emergency.”
The program will initially serve a 3 1/2-square-mile area from the Manatee County EMS Lakewood Ranch Station, with plans to expand coverage to 35 square miles with additional approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration. The drones are equipped with safety features such as ASTM-certified Parachute Recovery systems, on-board computers and LTE cell modems.
During a public meeting Tuesday, the Manatee County Commission received a briefing on the program’s status. Local leaders expressed their strong support for the initiative.
“This is an amazing opportunity to be on the cutting edge of technology in emergency response,” Manatee County Board of County Commissioners Chair Mike Rahn said.
Starting May 1, when a 911 caller reports cardiac arrest, opioid overdose or trauma within the coverage area, dispatchers will deploy a drone. The equipment is expected to reach the caller within 1 minute, 45 seconds to 2 minutes, 10 seconds, with dispatchers providing guidance on equipment use while traditional emergency response vehicles are en route.
Over the next 12 months, the hospital, ArcherFRS and Manatee County will evaluate the program’s performance to determine its scalability and broader applicability across the state.
Manatee County residents seeking more information on the program can visit mymanatee.org/drone.