Health and Wellness
Answered by:
Hon Alan Winde
Question Number:
15
Question Body:
Question by Mr M Booysen
(a) How many EMS search and rescue drones are currently in service in her Department, (b) in how many instances were these drones deployed in (i) 2022, (ii) 2023 and (iii) 2024 to date and (c) what effect has the use of drones had generally on patient outcomes in search and rescue operations?
Answer Body:
- 5 drones (DJI Matrice 200, DJI Matrice 350, DJI Mavic 2 Enterprise Advanced x3)
- (i) 41
(ii) 58
(iii) 35
(c) Patient Outcomes with Drone Technology
- Faster Access to Patients
- Drones provide quicker access to patients compared to rescuers on foot.
- The drones have reduced EMS response and mission times in search & rescue operations.
- Improved Patient Location
- Utilising advanced onboard camera and global satellite positioning system technology, the drones have enabled faster patient location, resulting in effective and efficient patient disposition.
- Faster patient location also significantly enhances survival chances.
- Comfort and Assurance
- The sight of a drone provides comfort to patients, reassuring them that help is on the way.
- Post rescue operation debriefings has yielded positive feedback from both rescue practitioner and patient perspectives.
- Practitioners and patients reported comfort, reassurance through the provision of technical assistance such as lighting and voice communication during operations.
Date:
Friday, July 26, 2024
