Everdrone’s Drone Emergency Medical Services has entered operational service in the Forges-les-Eaux area in Normandy, where the system is integrated into the regional emergency dispatch chain for suspected cardiac arrest. The deployment places the drone-supported service in active use during emergency calls with the aim of reducing the time to first medical intervention.
The system is operated by Everdrone in cooperation with French emergency dispatch centres and delivers an automated external defibrillator to the location of a suspected cardiac arrest, in some cases before an ambulance arrives. According to medical guidelines, the chance of survival in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest decreases each minute without defibrillation. The service is designed to provide earlier access to an AED within the existing emergency response structure.
The project was initiated by Rouen SAMU, whose medical director, Dr. Cédric Damm, identified the potential for shorter response times using Everdrone’s model. The SAMU has worked with Delivrone to implement the solution, and since 2022 Everdrone and Delivrone have collaborated on introducing DEMS capabilities to French hospitals.
The Normandy implementation is carried out together with Delivrone, CHU Rouen Normandie, Région Normandie and the municipality of Forges-les-Eaux. The organisations have established a long-term partnership focused on reducing time to first medical action in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases.
The system is based on Everdrone’s DEMS platform, which has been in service in Sweden since 2022. Data from the Swedish deployment, including recorded time savings and increased access to AEDs, has informed the French rollout.
“Having our system now used in live emergency calls in Normandy demonstrates how quickly DEMS technology can create tangible value. Together with our regional partners, we are taking an important step toward giving more patients life-saving support several minutes earlier than is possible today,” says Mats Sällström, CEO of Everdrone.
“In cases of cardiac arrest, every minute is critical, and the ability to place an AED on-site several minutes earlier can directly influence a patient’s chance of survival. By integrating Everdrone’s DEMS system into our dispatch chain, we gain a valuable complement that strengthens our ability to act quickly in the most time-sensitive situations. The project in Normandy shows that drone deliveries can become a natural and effective part of the emergency medical care of the future,” says Dr. Cédric Damm, medical director at SAMU 76 Rouen.
