Healthcare has advanced beyond our imagination - what was once thought of as impossible, is now made possible due to rapid advances in technology. Let's take the case of defibrillators; these are devices that can restore a normal heartbeat by sending an electric pulse. They are used to prevent or correct an arrhythmia, a heartbeat that is uneven or that is too slow or too fast. A study by the American Red Cross states the average response time for traditional first responders once 911 is called, is 8 to 12 minutes. For every minute that defibrillation is delayed, survival decreases by 7 to 10%.
Among the advanced equipment found in today's ambulance, automated external defibrillators (AED) are one of the most important. If the AEDs reach a patient in time, the chances of survival increase exponentially. But for the AEDs to reach the person who is in dire need, there are many obstacles such as heavy traffic, poor road conditions, lack of situational awareness, etc.