Using infrared cameras in drones to detect bleeding events

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhage is one of the main causes of death in trauma. Critical bleeding in patients needs to be detected as soon as possible to save the patient. Drones are gaining increasing importance in emergency services and can support rescue forces in accident scenarios such as a mass casualty incident. METHODS: In this study, a simulated pelvic hemorrhage was detected using a drone from 7 m above the ground over a time span of 30 s. RESULTS: The results allow a good detection of the pelvic hemorrhage. Nevertheless, the simulated blood cools down quickly. After 30 s, there was no significant temperature difference compared to the rest of the body. At this point, further assessment is only possible via the RGB image. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that bleeding from an open and continuously bleeding wound would most likely be detectable using the drone’s thermal imaging camera, even over a longer period of time.