Drones Assisting First Responders

BY Matthew Weissman

A recent development in the drone world has been the use of drone by first responders for situations like search and rescue missions all the way to crime scenes and wildfires. Drones can provide large amounts of information while limiting the potential for human harm. Additionally, drones can be deployed when it may not be possible to otherwise see people, allowing for more efficient rescue missions. While there is great potential for drones in the field of first responders, using drones in first responder missions does however raise concerns about privacy and oversight. Police, Firefighters, all other first responders, and local, state, and federal government should collaborate to set clear rules, while allowing drones to be successfully integrated to improve clarity and reduce response time in crucial situations.