4LifeLAB led an innovative joint exercise to carry out Advanced Air Mobility tests in Valongo, with the aim of improving the response to medical emergencies through the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).
The exercise had the support of the Civil Protection Service of the Municipality of Valongo, the Valongo Fire Brigade, and the collaboration of strategic partners such as the Unidade Local de Saúde São João, Eliot, Everythink and NOS.
The main purpose of the drill was to use an unmanned aircraft to quickly deliver medicines to hard-to-reach areas in a rescue situation. The scenario involved two people walking through the Serra de Santa Justa, in Valongo, when they suffered a swarm attack. In his desperate escape, one of the hikers fell down a cliff and fractured his leg, ending up immobilized.
Considering the victim’s high-risk situation, a UAV was deployed to speed up the transport and urgent administration of a drug while the rescue team moved to the scene. In addition, the UAV also transported a portable Automated External Defibrillator (AED), expanding the resources available for the emergency response.
These exercises are an important training tool in the area of emergency response, allowing the various procedures to be tested in a simulated environment, as well as evaluating the action protocol in real situations.
This project is part of the Health From Portugal agenda and is co-financed by the PRR. It is an important step towards transforming emergency response through technological innovation.
