3 ms·

I wonder if it wouldn't make sense to build a drone strong enough to carry a lifeguard the 200-300m effective range required and simply let him drop there and r

I wonder if it wouldn't make sense to build a drone strong enough to carry a lifeguard the 200-300m effective range required and simply let him drop there and return. That would probably be the fastest and safest method. Although I wouldn't want one crashing on me.

mattio 8y ago
Well, if the person's life was hanging by a thread, you would want to get the person out of the water asap, right? A 200-300m swim back while pulling someone will take a while. If the drone is there already why not let the lifeguard hook the person to the drone and let it fly back.
- geniium 8y ago
  Totally agree!
- dingaling 8y ago
  Getting the casualty out ASAP isn't always the priority, particularly if they have a potential spinal injury. Getting them into a controlled and survivable position is paramount. Usually only if they are unresponsive and not breathing are they extracted immediately regardless of risk or further injury. Source: NPLQ training
  - lucb1e 8y ago
    But how often do you break your spine in the middle of the ocean? Maybe there's rocky areas where what you're saying makes sense, but as far as I know the danger is exhaustion and consequently drowning, or perhaps hypothermia.
  - btashton 8y ago
    Unfortunately a lot of that focus on c spine has been driven by insurance providers (public and private). The costs of someone surviving with a long term spinal injury are much higher than someone who dies. In wildness first responder training they use to focus so much on c spine it was assured. If someone has an arterial bleed are you really going to make sure you are slow and careful with the spine or are you going to put a tourniquet on it as fast as possible? You should certainly be very careful with possible spinal injury, but it's not always the most important thing.

3 ms·

I wonder if it wouldn't make sense to build a drone strong enough to carry a lifeguard the 200-300m effective range required and simply let him drop there and r

by Roritharr 8y ago

mattio 8y ago
Well, if the person's life was hanging by a thread, you would want to get the person out of the water asap, right? A 200-300m swim back while pulling someone will take a while. If the drone is there already why not let the lifeguard hook the person to the drone and let it fly back.
- geniium 8y ago
  Totally agree!
- dingaling 8y ago
  Getting the casualty out ASAP isn't always the priority, particularly if they have a potential spinal injury. Getting them into a controlled and survivable position is paramount. Usually only if they are unresponsive and not breathing are they extracted immediately regardless of risk or further injury. Source: NPLQ training
  - lucb1e 8y ago
    But how often do you break your spine in the middle of the ocean? Maybe there's rocky areas where what you're saying makes sense, but as far as I know the danger is exhaustion and consequently drowning, or perhaps hypothermia.
  - btashton 8y ago
    Unfortunately a lot of that focus on c spine has been driven by insurance providers (public and private). The costs of someone surviving with a long term spinal injury are much higher than someone who dies. In wildness first responder training they use to focus so much on c spine it was assured. If someone has an arterial bleed are you really going to make sure you are slow and careful with the spine or are you going to put a tourniquet on it as fast as possible? You should certainly be very careful with possible spinal injury, but it's not always the most important thing.