SOS Alarm, the company that operates Sweden’s 112 emergency number, is to use drones to deliver defibrillators for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests for the first time in a trial that begins in June.

The clinical study into the use of emergency medical drone transport is the latest phase of a research collaboration between SOS Alarm, the Center for Resuscitation Science at Karolinska Institute and software company Everdrone.

Initially, the study will focus on Gothenburg and Kungälv, an area of about 80,000 residents. In the long term, the drones will be used in more locations around Sweden.

The drones will complement existing ambulances and be activated when a 112 call taker suspects a cardiac arrest. In that scenario, the drone will use GPS technology and advanced camera systems to navigate to the scene of the incident, delivering the defibrillator where it is needed.

Maria Khorsand, CEO of SOS Alarm, said: “It is fantastic that the collaboration has led to the point where we can now deploy safe drone transportations that can save a life. In emergency situations every second counts. With the help of drones, we can fly out medicine and equipment quickly and to more inaccessible locations, while waiting for the ambulance to arrive at the scene.”

The trial will run between June and September, when the results will be evaluated before further expansion.