Soon, 9-1-1 dispatchers in parts of Nevada will be able to send lifesaving defibrillators to heart attack victims using drones.
Approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to fly drones beyond visual line of sight will allow Flirtey, a drone company, to launch the program in the Reno, Carson City and Sparks area, KOLO-TV reports. Under the program, which will start in 2020, a person suffering a heart attack will be able to call 9-1-1, and a dispatcher will be able to pilot a drone-carrying defibrillator to the individual faster than paramedics could arrive.
"Public safety is our top priority, and the use of drones to provide lifesaving AED (Automated External Defibrillator) technology to cardiac patients will save lives across our community," Reno Mayor Hillary Schieve told the TV station.
The Nevada area was just one of 10 spots in the United States to operate such a program, according to KOLO.
