Drone helps Santa Fe first responders save man’s life
By Cody Thomason
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SANTA FE, New Mexico (KOAT) — First responders from the Santa Fe Police Department and the Santa Fe Fire Department successfully saved the life of a 47-year-old man Wednesday afternoon with the assistance of a drone near Las Acequias Park.
Emergency crews responded to the scene after reports of an unconscious male in the area. Using a Drone as First Responder (DFR) system, a drone was rapidly deployed and flown to the location ahead of some responding units.
Officials say the drone’s aerial perspective helped responders quickly locate the man, allowing officers and firefighters to reach him and begin life-saving care without delay.
Responding officers credited the skilled unmanned aircraft system pilot and the department’s DFR deployment model for helping first responders pinpoint the man’s exact location. The rapid identification of the patient directly contributed to the successful outcome, officials said.
The incident marks the first time a life has been saved in Santa Fe with the assistance of a Drone as First Responder system.
The city is currently conducting a test and evaluation of the DFR program using technology from Axon and Skydio. The evaluation will continue through Friday as officials assess how the system can enhance situational awareness and response times.
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