Simulation of Response Time Reduction of OHCA Considering Drone Base Selection for AED Delivery

Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) is a critical medical emergency that requires immediate intervention. With technological advancements, integrating drones into the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) has emerged as a promising solution. This study examines OHCA cases in Taipei and New Taipei City, Taiwan, from September to December 2019. A two-phase optimization model was employed to identify the effective locations for drone bases. Among the scenarios tested, settings with a maximum flight time of 7 minutes, 90% OHCA case coverage, and 13 drone bases, demonstrated the best overall performance in terms of system-wide and area-specific usage rates, response time reduction, and cost-effectiveness. These findings provide valuable insights into the feasibility of drone deployment and offer practical reference for real-world emergency applications.