Manatee County Drone Program Expands to 35 Square Miles, Seven Days a Week

MANATEE COUNTY — On Tuesday, Manatee County announced that Phase Two of the 9-1-1 integrated drone delivery system is expected to launch Monday, September 29, expanding the coverage area to 35 square miles and hours of operation to seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Phase Two marks a significant expansion of the 9-1-1 integrated drone delivery system, which initially served a 3.5-square-mile area of coverage, Monday through Friday, during daylight hours.

“Every minute counts when a life is on the line, and with the use of innovative technologies, we’re working to provide lifesaving care to our residents as quickly as possible,” said George Kruse, chair of the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners.

The program, launched in May 2024, marked the first-in-the-nation to integrate drone technology to support emergency response efforts. When someone within the 35 square mile service area calls 911 for cardiac arrest or opioid overdose, a drone automatically delivers:

• An automated external defibrillator (AED) for heart attacks
• NARCAN Nasal Spray for overdoses
• Equipment arrives in under three minutes on average, providing critical care while ambulances and first responders are en route.
• The program is a partnership between Manatee County, ArcherFRS, and Tampa General Hospital. This futuristic model for care delivery is an example of Tampa General’s commitment to transform health care through innovation.

“Manatee County is leading the nation in drone technology for emergency response,” said Gordon Folkes, founder and CEO of ArcherFRS. “Phase Two will help more people and demonstrate the potential of this system to improve response times and chance of survival.”

Manatee County’s ArcherFRS system utilizes Freefly Systems AltaX unmanned aircraft equipped with an ASTM-certified Parachute Recovery system, ADS-B receiver, on-board computer and LTE cell modem. The system is installed at the Manatee County EMS Lakewood Ranch Station on Malachite Drive. Manatee County has contracted ArcherFRS to provide piloting and maintenance services to help facilitate this operation.

What Happens During an Emergency

• Someone within the service area calls 9-1-1 for cardiac arrest or overdose
• Dispatcher launches the drone along with an ambulance/first responders
• Drone delivers equipment in under three minutes (five minutes maximum)
• Dispatcher guides caller through using the equipment until ambulance / first responders arrive
• No cost to residents

TGH, ArcherFRS and Manatee County will evaluate the performance and effectiveness of the program during the months ahead to determine how the technology can be utilized to serve more residents across the state.Each year, 350,000 people in the United States experience a cardiac arrest outside the hospital and only 10% survive. Last year, more than 112,000 Americans died from opioid-related exposure.

For more information, check out mymanatee.org/drone