ENGL 210 502

Improving Emergency Healthcare Accessibility Using Medical

Drones

Zeinab Ataya UIN: 425001224

Ahmad Al-Sadi UIN: 724006589

Yamen Zaza UIN: 924007663

Ali Al-Ansari UIN: 324006534

Submission Date: 2nd of February 2017

Professor: Amy Hodges

 Table of Contents

1.0 Overview ............................................................................................................................................. 4

2.0 - Significance of Problem ...................................................................................................................... 5
3.0 - Proposed Solution ............................................................................................................................... 6
3.1 Procedure........................................................................................................................................... 6
3.2 - Specialized Drones .......................................................................................................................... 7
3.3 - Key Features of the Medical Drones: ............................................................................................. 8
i) Auto-Pilot.......................................................................................................................................... 8
ii) GPS Flight Assistance...................................................................................................................... 8
iii) Coming Home ................................................................................................................................. 9
iv) Camera ............................................................................................................................................ 9
v) Motion Detector .............................................................................................................................. 9
vi) Electric Powered ............................................................................................................................ 9
vii) Weather Adaptability ................................................................................................................... 9
3.4 - Target Market .................................................................................................................................. 9
4.0 - Design Constraints ............................................................................................................................ 11
4.1 - Battery ........................................................................................................................................... 11
4.2 - Weather conditions....................................................................................................................... 11
4.3 - Privacy ........................................................................................................................................... 12
5.0 - Current Drones in the Market .......................................................................................................... 12
5.1- Allied Drones [11] .......................................................................................................................... 12
5.2 - DJI Matrice 600 Pro [12]............................................................................................................... 12
5.3 - Flytrex Sky [13] ............................................................................................................................. 13
6.0 - Benefits of Emergency Medical Drones ........................................................................................... 13
6.1 - Efficiency........................................................................................................................................ 13
6.2 Convenience .................................................................................................................................. 13
6.3 - Accessibility ................................................................................................................................... 14
7.0 Data Collection..................................................................................................................................... 15
7.1 - Survey ............................................................................................................................................ 15
7.2 - Question Selection ........................................................................................................................ 16
7.3 - Survey Results ............................................................................................................................... 17
8.0 - Future Development Opportunities ................................................................................................ 21
9.0 References......................................................................................................................................... 23
10.0 Appendix ......................................................................................................................................... 25
1.0 Overview
Like many places which use automobiles as the main method of transport, Qatar is
commonplace to road accidents. The Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics
released monthly statistics highlighting that fatal road accidents claimed the lives of 80
people across Qatar over the first half of 2016 [1]. According to Dr. Rafael Consunji, a
Trauma Surgery Section Injury Prevention director from Hamad General Hospital (HGH),
71% of these deaths happen on the scene of the accident [2]. As a result, to reduce the
number of fatalities; medical drones are the next step towards improving emergency
healthcare accessibility and resolving a serious and ongoing issue in Qatar.

Another issue which has caught the attention of international news outlets and safety
organizations such as Amnesty International, is the increasing number of accidents and
deaths occurring at construction sites [3]. By implementing medical drones, we can ensure
that the number of fatal accidents will decrease due to a faster response rate to
emergencies. In addition, medical drones can be very useful when being sent to
construction sites where the accident happens at elevated locations which would take
longer to reach if pursued by other methods.

Improving healthcare accessibility using medical drones can help progress the industry
and improve its efficiency when dealing with fatal accidents that could save seconds of an
individuals life. Medical drones are revolutionary, and this report is just the beginning
towards developing smart technologies that can benefit and improve our lives.
2.0 - Significance of Problem
The two most popular methods of reacting to a 999 alert are van-based ambulances and
helicopter ambulances, each of which poses their own flaws over time. In the Gulf, van-
based ambulances suffer from severe traffic congestion, especially during the day.
According to Gulf News, the ignorance of many motorists on the street is becoming a larger
problem every day, which in turn has led to the start of many campaigns in Qatar and Dubai
[4]. They explain further that the sight of an ambulance stuck on a busy road is a recurring
scene, signaling how some lives are put in danger due to mere traffic.

On the other hand, Air Ambulance services can only be dispatched to reach otherwise
isolated areas or to aid patients that are in extremely urgent cases. Also, the topic of when
to dispatch a helicopter ambulance remains a highly debated topic among the various
emergency medical service (EMS) providers, as pointed out and studied extensively by the
American College of Emergency Physicians [5].

Not only that, but the request for immediate assistance through 999 is not always justified.
Too often, many resources are invested in cases that wouldve easily been dealt with were
there other forms of service. Karen Auge, a Denver Post reporter, talks about this conflict in
detail. According to Auge, many emergency calls arent emergencies at all but are medical
situations best handled in a doctors office [6]. Yet again, we see this trend not only evident
in the more Western part of the world, but right in the heart of the Gulf region. The
Peninsula, in a recent post, claims that the Qatari EMS receives 5,000 to 6,000 calls per day,
80% of which are non-urgent [7]. Although Qatar has taken steps to resolve such arising
issues, such as introducing special ambulances that are meant to take care of patients
mobility and non-urgent use, the conflict with traffic in this small country still hinders
many of those well-intentioned programs.

Also, most of those vehicles are used to transport patients that are already being taken care
of in one hospital or to offer pre-registered assistance [8]. There is no success to be found
of a service that offers simultaneous and immediate medical assistance to patients
throughout the country.

The problems of cost, traffic, drivers ignorance, and non-urgent assistance requests remain
unsolved problems in an increasingly technological world.

3.0 - Proposed Solution

One of the visions of Qatar 2030 is for Qatar to significantly improve its healthcare sector.
Thus, to enhance the efficiency and functionality of medical services, our company Q-
Drones is introducing Specialized Emergency Medical Drones to achieve this vision. When
developing our drone technology, we do not aim to replace ambulances all together
because in some cases, the individual needs to be relocated to a hospital for further aid.
Rather the drones would be used complimentary to ambulances when necessary. The
drones would be used in cases such as:

1. When there is no need for ambulance/medical personnel to be at the scene like

non-urgent emergencies
2. When an accident is life-threatening and the drone could be sent out to reach the
scene earlier (to offer the needed medication) before an ambulance can arrive.

The first few minutes after an accident are critical and it is vital to provide the correct
medical attention to thwart further complications. Thus, accelerating the response rate is
one of the core goals of our project.

3.1 Procedure
The image below shows the operation cycle of an emergency medical drone. It explains the
necessary steps when responding to an emergency.
When the emergency department is notified with a serious accident, the appropriate
medical drone would be sent out to the specified location within 8-10 minutes travelling at
speeds up to 45 mph, 400ft above the ground. The specifications of our drones are
designed to be similar to match those which are currently competitive in the market such
as the Allied Drones HL48 "Chaos" and the DJI Matrice 600 Pro.

3.2 - Specialized Drones

To enhance the functionality of the medical drones, different medical drones can be
manufactured to serve specific cases. For example, an individual suffering from cardiac
arrest can be sent a drone containing a CPR kit. The advantage towards having specialized
drones is reducing the load of the drone so that it could travel at a faster velocity.

Each of the medical drones could carry up to 6 Kg of aid which can include lifesaving
technologies, such as:

Specific medication
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
Emergency Allergy Shots
General First-Aid Kits
Almost all individuals in Qatar have healthcare identifications (it is required by law for
most sponsors to offer healthcare assistance to its employees). Consequently, when faced
with an accident, the operator at the health center can look up the medical files to know
which medication to send out to that person (important factors like if the individual suffers
any diseases or has certain allergies).

3.3 - Key Features of the Medical Drones:

To ensure an easy-to-use user experience, we have developed certain features that would
improve the functionality of our medical drones. All our features play an important role
with transporting medical equipment from the medical center to the desired location. For
example, our motion detector and durable carbon fibre material helps avoid collision with
other objects in the air hence protecting the drone from potential incoming damage. We
have avoided unnecessary features such as solar paneling to avoid adding bulk to our
drones and which would require increased power output which the battery couldnt offer
unless the flight time is compensated.

i) Auto-Pilot
The medical drones are autonomous, which means that they can operate freely without the
need for human interaction. This gives way for multiple drones to be flown at once without
worrying about having an active team flying all the drones which reduces costs on human
resources and training.

Autonomous drones are also free from human error which can significantly reduce the
chances of accidents. However, when needed, an operator can choose to control the drone
when problems arise such as a fault with the navigation system.

ii) GPS Flight Assistance

The advanced navigation software allows the drone to take the most optimal route towards
the desired location in order to reduce the flight time. The system also instructs the drone
where to fly (avoiding passing over private property), at what height and what speed.
iii) Coming Home
The feature allows the drone to automatically fly back directly to the medical center
through radio control after it has delivered the necessary aid.

iv) Camera
A camera would be attached to the drone to facilitate multiple tasks. The main task of the
camera is to provide instructions to the people at the accident scene. Along with a built-in
speaker, an operator could instruct the individual the steps regarding how to use any of the
equipment. The secondary task of the camera is to monitor traffic when flying to the
accidents location so that if an ambulance is needed, it could indicate which roads are best
to avoid due to traffic.

v) Motion Detector
The motion detector analyzes the drones surroundings around a five-meter radius to avoid
any mid-air collisions that would disrupt the flight or damage any of the
components.

vi) Electric Powered

This is a resourceful method of powering the drone without causing much harm to the
environment. The batteries are rechargeable (have a 50-minute battery life) and contain
fiber-optic like wires to ensure efficient energy transfer and immediate responses to the
operator. In addition, there is a secondary battery pack plugged to the drone in case the
drone was flying for a longer period. *See section 4.1 under design constraints for more
information.

vii) Weather Adaptability

The carbon fiber material covering the drone is waterproof so that it could tolerate rainy
conditions as well as being able to withstand strong winds and to some extent, lighting
strikes.

3.4 - Target Market

Since our product is strictly focused on the healthcare sector, our ideal target market will
be the various emergency medical centers scattered across Doha, Qatar. Medical drones
will be a beneficial addition to the emergency team as they are more effective and have a
faster response rate (8-10 seconds response time) when compared with ambulances (10-
15 minutes) and medical personnel [9]

Also, it is important to note that not all the listed medical centers can dispatch ambulances.
This is because not every medical center has the necessary capital and human resources to
facilitate an emergency service. Thus, medical drones are a convenient alternative as they
do not require much resources and cost very little (30,000 Riyals) when compared to a
van-ambulance (250,000+ Riyals). *See section 6.0 which explains more benefits as to why
drones are better than their current counterparts.

The picture below shows all the medical centers currently available around Qatar.

The Medical Centers Which Offer Emergency Services

Our initial aim is to provide 5 drones to the main medical center (Hamad Medical Center)
and study how much they are used and how effective they are. Hamad Medical Center was
chosen as the likely candidate for our study because it is the main healthcare center in
Qatar and it receives the most emergencies per day [9]. Once a full analysis has been
conducted for a period of 6 months, a data report can be produced and shared with the rest
of the medical centers to potentially convince them to buy the product.
The report will focus on the effectiveness of the medical drones. Our criteria for
effectiveness are:

The number of successful uses of the medical drones

Success rate ratio of whether the drones created an impact when being sent in
conjunction with an ambulance
The speed and time it takes for the drone to arrive at an accident
Patient will be surveyed whether an operator offering instructions through the
drone (during non-drastic injuries) is an alternative to medical personnel being
present at the scene

In addition, our product will be showcased in the next Healthcare Convention to attract and
convince further the medical centers that medical drones are next step towards improving
emergency healthcare accessibility while also looking for potential investors and suppliers.

The market for this product not only serves for emergency circumstances but the scope can
range to medical deliveries (blood supplies) and search and rescue missions whereby the
drones can be used to aid firefighters and emergency personnel to rescue people in danger.

4.0 - Design Constraints

4.1 - Battery
A team of electrical and chemical engineers developed a highly durable lithium polymer
battery that can last up to 50 minutes. However, the voltage and current of the batteries
varies according to the range and weight load capacity of the drone. The voltage and the
current can go up to 22.2 V and 22,000 mAh [10].

4.2 - Weather conditions

The drones are made of carbon fiber which protects their body from corrosion and
different weather conditions such as rain or dust. Also, the course of the drone is not
affected by severe weather changes such as dust, rain, or wind as they are controlled by a
GPS system that accurately leads them to the right destination.
 4.3 - Privacy
Qatar has a restriction on the flight of drones within public and private spaces. Since this
project is operated by public corporations which are supervised by the government, the
restriction doesnt apply here. Even so, we have initially thought that the citizens of Qatar
would be concerned about drones flying over their houses due to privacy evasions, but the
survey we conducted showed that the issue was insignificant. See Section 7.3 for more
information.

5.0 - Current Drones in the Market

Below are three drones are which acquire the best specifications in the current market. Our
aim is to develop technologies that would compete with these drones. Since our drones are
non-commercial and will be used for medical purposes, the specifications can be improved
further to satisfy our main goal.

5.1- Allied Drones [11]

Maximum Flight Weight Load Connection Feature Specification

Time Capacity Range
Price $ 20,000
Dimensions 1574.8 x 1574.8 x 457.2
45 mm
minutes 6.8 20 Km
Kg Body Material Carbon Fiber
Speed 13.4 m/s

5.2 - DJI Matrice 600 Pro [12]

Maximum Flight Weight Load Connection

Time Capacity Range Feature Specification
Price $ 5000
Wingspan 1668 x 1518 x 727 mm
32 minutes 6 5 Km Body Material Carbon Fiber
Kg
Speed 17 m/s
5.3 - Flytrex Sky [13]

Maximum Flight Weight Load Connection

Time Capacity Range Feature Specification
Price $ 999
2
Kg Dimensions 273 223 107 mm
2 Km Body Material Carbon Fiber
29 minutes
Speed 15 m/s

6.0 - Benefits of Emergency Medical Drones

6.1 - Efficiency
Integrating the drone system into the current medical structure will push Qatar one step
closer to fulfilling its 2030 vision where improving healthcare is a main priority. Our goal is
to provide a better alternative to the standard healthcare solutions using drones.

Having a sleek body design, the drones are less restricted when maneuvering compared to
current transportation means because the drones aerodynamics along with the quadrotors
provide enough thrust power to lift the payload without degrading the speed factor. This
aspect comes in handy when dealing with situations in which the patient is stuck in traffic
or trapped inside a building. The medical drone will be able to land and move on ground
thanks to the special wheels that will be attached to its base to prevent unnecessary
damage to the body and expand the range of motion to include on and off ground
movement. In other words, drones will not only save time, but also may save more lives
than common methods used.

6.2 Convenience
To make Doha a smart city, easy operating mechanisms along with automated functionality
are required to achieve that goal. Drone stations are easy to operate and will immediately
function accordingly. This is very crucial because even though Doha has a relatively quick
medical transportation system, statistics from police departments show that it takes an
ambulance 15 minutes to reach its destination through the fastest route possible [9]. As
Qatars population increases, the resulted traffic will cause more challenges that will make
the traditional medical system inefficient.

One of the drones main functions is autonomous piloting in which the drone will make use
of its built-in GPS system and navigation system to arrive to its destination. A main control
center will also track and provide the drones coordinates with respect to other drones.
Thus, the likelihood of errors is very low when compared to human errors. When
necessary, the drones will offer a manual control option in which professional operators
will take control if the situation requires so.

For the convenience of the medical staff, the medical drone system is operated by simple
commands which will only direct the drone to the required medical equipment and to the
patients location. Our simple user interface will reduce certain complications the hospital
staff face might face.

Also, the drones will make use of its built-in camera and speakers to communicate verbal
commands to the patients making the process more responsive. In case a doctor needs to
ask questions or give out specific procedures, the camera can start a live feed of the patient.

Furthermore, the complexity of the drone allows it to perform multiple tasks at a time
without disrupting its responsiveness. In the context of this project, drones can act as
surveillance drones that can recognize accidents and traffic flow to provide such crucial
information to the operations center to act accordingly, making drones helpful in many
scenarios.

6.3 - Accessibility
Synchronizing Hamads Medical Hospital (HMC) services with what drones are capable of
will result in smoother operation and faster feedback to reach the patient.

Drone stations will be available in multiple locations to ensure a better, more accessible
service. The stations will be equipped with the essential medical tools in a form of medical
crates that are pre-assembled to aid common incidents. The drones will have an integrated
bar code system to identify and pick up the prescribed crate to be delivered. Drone stations
will also have landing pads that will automatically start charging the drone once it lands on
it. Different drones will have different landing pads that will categorize the drones with
respect to the specific usage of that drone. This is because drones that fly longer distances
have a stronger battery pack which needs different power supplies.

The drone station will be built to allow takeoff from a higher altitude. The reason being is
that the earths lowest atmosphere layer, known as the troposphere, is home to most of the
atmospheric changes which will result in a poor performance and an increase in
software/hardware errors. For instance, taking off from a higher altitude in case of a foggy
weather will ensure better vision from the drones built-in cameras. Furthermore, drone
stations will be located in accident-heavy areas which will provide medical services in an
agile manner leaving no patients left behind around the clock.

On the long run, drone stations, will enhance the medical aid system as not all hospitals can
dispatch ambulances. A network system of drone stations will cover most of the areas
within and Doha, making accessible to most of the population.

In addition, with drone stations being built next to hospitals, we will be able to cover most
of the common injuries as any required medication can be escorted by hospital personnel
to the drone station. Thus, many lives will be saved whether the scenario is an injury or a
required dose of medication making the system a bit more flexible and adaptive.

7.0 Data Collection

The final factor that was crucial for the success of the Q-Drones initiative in the state of
Qatar was the attitudes of the public towards such an innovation. Several kinds of data had
to be collected and analyzed to determine the expediency and feasibility of drone usage for
such purpose. The analysis of the obtained data led to the current changes from our initial
prototype.

7.1 - Survey
Surveys were chosen as the tool for data collection and analysis due to the nature of
information that we needed to enhance our prototype and reflect upon any potential
hardships that our product might face in the market and by the public. Since the technical
data we needed was already obtained and used by our various developers, we did not need
information with regards to technical data. Instead, measurements of the communitys
acceptance of drone usage and their openness to employ such a service was an issue that
needed to be addressed. Surveys, then, were the tool of maximum efficiency in getting
direct responses from a sample representative of local population of Qatar. By choosing the
questions that were most relevant to our concerns, we could better secure a successful
start in providing a convenient medical service.

7.2 - Question Selection

Question choice was under critical review several times to produce minimal errors and bias
while collecting the data. In writing the survey, two major and common survey errors were
tackled and reduced. The first was the possibility of creating a biased survey. The most
critical kind of bias that our team feared to be present in our survey is the social
desirability bias. This bias occurs when the participants are more prone to answering the
survey in a manner that is socially acceptable.

To counter such bias, we voluntarily tried to construct the survey to be as academic as

possible. Questions that required little to no background technical knowledge of drones
were written, such as that of Have you ever contacted emergency services in Qatar?
These kinds of questions left little room for bias and hence reduced error in data collection.

Since our service was mainly aimed to serve a humanitarian service, it was easy for the
survey participants to be swayed using emotionally intensive language. Words such as life,
survival, and responsibility were voluntarily avoided to not establish any emotional
connection between the participant and his responsibility to enhancing medical services.
For example, this sort of question

Would you stop a drone from a saving a life if it had to fly over your house?
was replaced by the more objective question
Would you mind having a drone fly over your house for emergency purposes?
The second question neither exaggerates nor hides any critical information from the
participant. Rather, it poses a question of his acceptance of the use of drones given the
correct context. All the questions that were asked can be found in the Appendix.

7.3 - Survey Results

The following statistics used in this study were exported from www.surveymonkey.com as a
form of pie charts after the survey was electronically distributed amongst Texas A&M
University at Qatar. The survey was open for 2 weeks and the total number of recorded
responses was from 57 individuals.

What is your gender?

Male (%61.29) Female (%38.71)

Figure 1: 57 responses recorded

The survey conducted was sent to the student pool at Texas A&M University at Qatar which
consists of a population where males outnumber females. The results above agree with the
realistic ratio of males to females enrolled as students.

What is your age?

18-24 (%86.69) 25-34 (%6.56) 75 or older (%6.56)

Figure 2: 57 responses recorded

Due to the nature of an undergraduate school with most of the student being high school
graduates, the age range from 18 to 24 years old dominates as it is the norm for students to
enter TAMUQ University during that period of their lives.

Have you seen an ambulance stuck in

traffic?

Yes (%72.88) No (%27.12)

Figure 3: 57 responses recorded

The pie chart shows that more than 70% of the students who took the survey have
witnessed a medical ambulance stuck in traffic. The case of ambulances stuck in traffic is
not only common in Qatar as many countries suffer from the same phenomena. A
respondent on [14] Times of India has told his experience as three lives were lost due to
the ambulance arriving 50 minutes later to the scene.

Have you ever contacted If yes, how long did it take to

Emergency Services in Qatar? arrive?

<10 mins (%28.57) <15 mins (%39.29)

Yes (%45.76) No (%54.24) >15 mins (%32.14)

Figure 4: 57 responses recorded Figure 5: 25 responses recorded

The results show almost half of the students having an experience with the current medical
transportation system with some cases of the ambulance arriving after 15 minutes since
the initial phone call. These results show a disappointing contradiction with the statistics
posting on the official Hamad Medical Hospital website which state that ambulances always
arrive to the patient under 15 minutes.

Do you carry a first aid kit with you?

Yes (%15.52) No (%84.48)

Figure 6: 57 responds recorded

One might look at the above chart and say that the results are expected to be the way they
are; however, the intention of the team was not to prove the obvious, but rather show that
people are vulnerable to countless hazards and potential risks without having proper
medical equipment to aid them in case an injury occurs. The chart shows that more than
80% of the students dont carry the most basic medical aid tools around with them, and do
not have quick access to such equipment.

Have you ever heard of Medical Drones?

Yes (%32.20) No (%67.80)

Figure 7: 57 responds recorded

The drone industry has been exponentially growing in the US during the past couple of
years but the question is, how familiar are people living in Qatar are with medical drones?
The survey results show a significant percentage of students who are not aware of Medical
Drones. This suggests that we must take on initiatives that would increase the publics
knowledge on drones. This is
explained further in section 7.4.
Would you mind having a drone flying
over your house if it was used for
emergency purposes?

Yes (%28.81) No (%71.19)

Figure 8: 57 responds recorded

One of the main issues that faced us as a team is the privacy complications with the
common public and their reaction to the product. Since our purpose is clear and is strictly
limited to emergency cases, we had a high expectation of people cooperating and
supporting the service. In fact, the survey shows an astonishing 70% plus positive feedback
on this matter and in return eliminated this constraint which the team initially had.

For mild cases, would you prefer to

completely replace ambulances for
drones if proven efficient?

Yes (%64.41) No! (%35.59)

Figure 9: 57 responds recorded

The final question of the survey is our teams way of measuring the publics pulse regarding
this sensitive topic to understand whether the extensive use of Medical Drone is a bad idea
in the eyes of the potential public users. The results aligned with the hoped-for team vision
with 63% of the people agreeing on using Medical Drones as a complete alternative to the
current van based medical services around Doha. To gain a greater rate of acceptance of
medical drones, our company is currently thinking of ways to further educate the public
regarding the benefits and conveniences of medical drones. We aim to visit places of
education, malls and parks to provide the public with a firsthand experience with our
drones.

7.4 Adaptations
One major software change we implemented to our new model was the integration of
enhanced algorithms to improve the drones navigation system and maneuvering. Since
most people did not oppose having a drone fly next to their house, the previously restricted
drone system will now be programmed to freely enter residential areas if the time
difference computed was significant.

Moreover, the lack of knowledge of medical drones present in this region inspired us to
take steps to educate the public about their uses. We can show off how our drones work in
public places such as shopping malls by making our drones fly between two points and
deliver a certain package. This would hopefully show the community what our drones
could do and it would give us a chance to interact with potential users and hear their
thoughts about the project to further improve our product.

8.0 - Future Development Opportunities

A ground-breaking project like medical drones could help improve medical services in
countries where healthcare is limited. For example, medical drones could be used to help
deliver aid in war torn countries like Syria where it is extremely risky to send out a
physical ambulance. Also, medical drones could be used to deliver vaccines and medication
in countries such as Somalia and Uganda where individuals live in areas that make it hard
for an ambulance to arrive due to poor landscapes.
Health and hospitalization are becoming increasingly vital concerns, especially in third
world countries where they dont have the privileges of having advanced medical centers.
Due to various existing problems in the hospitalization methods that are present, the
EMSs1 need for new technological aids is growing larger every day. Drones have proven to
offer fast and reliable transportation methodology for mild medical needs or urgent calls
where contemporary methods are deemed inefficient. A network of many unique
autonomous medical drones will bring those countries a step closer towards better
healthcare services. This network will not only save those countries many unnecessary
costs, but also help save a life when one second can be the deciding factor.

1
Emergency Medical Services
9.0 References
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[2:3] CW Staff. Construction accidents on the rise in Qatar. [Feb 11, 2013]
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[3:3] Amnesty International. Qatar: Migrant workers still at risk of abuse despite reforms.
[Dec 12 2016]
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[4:4] J. A. Tamimi, "Ambulance service: Every second counts in saving a life. [2011]
Available: http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/emergencies/ambulance-service-every-second-
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[5:4] American College of Emergency Physicians and National Association of EMS Physicians,
Guidelines for Air Medical Dispatch. [2007] Available:
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y_Medical_Services/GuidelinesForAirMedDisp.pdf. [Accessed: Feb. 28, 2017]

[6:4] K. Aug, "911 non-emergencies a growing problem nationwide."[2009].

Available: http://www.denverpost.com/2009/12/28/911-non-emergencies-a-growing-problem-
nationwide/ [Accessed: Feb 12, 2017]

[7:4] F. Saleem, "HMC introduces special ambulances," The Peninsula Qatar, 2016. [Online].
Available: https://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/15/11/2016/HMC-introduces-special-
ambulances. [Accessed: Feb. 28, 2017]

[8:4] Doha News. Only 10% of 999 Calls in Qatar for Real Emergencies [Oct 19 2014]
https://dohanews.co/moi-official-10-pc-999-calls-real-emergencies/ [Accessed: Feb 12, 2017]

[9:9] Hamad Medical Cooperation. Emergency Department. [n.d.]

Website: https://www.hamad.qa/EN/Patient-Information/Emergency-
Departments/Pages/default.aspx [Accessed: Feb 12, 2017]

[10:10] Compare Drones, Compare Drones - Search, Find, and Compare Drone Specs.
[Online]. Internet: http://drones.specout.com/. [Accessed: 28-Feb-2017].

[11:11] Graphiq. Allied Drones HL48 "Chaos" [n.d.]

Internet: http://drones.specout.com/l/140/Allied-Drones-HL48-Chaos. [Accessed: 12-Feb-2017]
[12:11] Graphiq. DJI Matrice 600 Pro (M600 Pro). [n.d.]
Internet: http://drones.specout.com/l/1125/DJI-Matrice-600-Pro-M600-Pro. [Accessed: Feb 12,
2017]

[13:12] Graphiq. Flytrex Sky. [n.d.]

Internet: http://drones.specout.com/l/327/Flytrex-Sky. [Accessed: Feb 12, 2017]

[14: 18] Times of India. We waited for an hour for help to arrive. [April 10, 2009].
Internet:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bengaluru/We-waited-for-an-hour-for-help-to-
arrive/articleshow/4382238.cms [Accessed: April 27, 2017]
10.0 Appendix
Appendix A: Survey Questions extracted from surveymonkey.com:

1. What is your gender?

2. What is your age?
3. Have you seen an ambulance stuck in traffic?
4. Have you ever contacted emergency services in Qatar?
5. If yes, how long did it take to arrive?
6. Do you carry a first aid kit with you?
7. Have you ever heard of medical drones?
8. Would you mind a drone flying over your house if it was used for emergency
purposes?
9. For mild cases, would you prefer to completely replace ambulances for drones if
proven efficient?