Drones may offer a faster way to deliver automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to people experiencing cardiac arrests outside hospitals, according to research presented at the **European Emergency Medicine Congress** in Paris. The study, which has not yet been reviewed by other experts in the field, suggests that drones could improve access to AEDs in areas where these devices are not easily available. In the UK, over 30,000 cardiac arrests occur outside of hospitals each year, but fewer than one in 10 people survive, and many of those who do survive suffer from long-term neurological problems. Every minute without cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by 10%, according to the British Heart Foundation. Researchers analyzed 28,349 cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in areas outside Central Paris between 2011 and 2024. They found that only 30% of these incidents occurred within 500 meters of a fixed AED. To cover 84.5% of cases, an additional 910 AEDs would be needed, and 1,712 more would be required for full coverage. However, using drones operating within a 3,900-meter radius could significantly improve coverage with fewer devices. For example, 100 drone bases and 26 additional AEDs would cover more than 97% of cardiac arrest cases, while 200 drone bases and four extra AEDs would cover more than 99% of cases. The study also found that only 30-40% of cardiac arrest cases had access to existing AEDs within five minutes using ground transportation. In France, only 8% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients benefit from a public AED before emergency services arrive, partly because many AEDs are not accessible. In a scenario with 200 drone bases, 871 existing AED locations, and four additional AEDs, drone delivery could reach nearly all cardiac arrest cases within five minutes. The models considered drone bases at current AED locations, fire stations, and mobile intensive care units, but they did not look at how this system would work in real-world conditions. Drones are already being used in parts of Sweden to deliver AEDs, and there are reports that this has saved lives. In real systems, drones are operated by trained pilots who follow automated flight paths after being activated by emergency dispatchers. The AED delivery is supervised by emergency medical services, and the device can be used by members of the public at the scene. The researchers note that the cost of drones must be considered when evaluating the feasibility of such technology.