Mansfield, Ohio, is set to become a trailblazer in emergency response technology with the introduction of a Drones as First Responders (DFR) program. The city may be the first in Ohio to adopt this cutting-edge approach, as reported by the Mansfield News Journal.

A Bird’s Eye View for First Responders

The Mansfield Board of Control has greenlit a one-year trial contract with Paladin Drones, costing $49,000. This innovative program aims to provide police and fire departments with an extra set of eyes in the sky during emergency calls.

Safety Service Director Keith Porch announced the program, while Police Chief Jason Bammann shared more details about its implementation.

“It’ll definitely be an add-on tool for officers,” Bammann said. “By no means is this project designed to replace police officers.”

How It Works

The drone will be stationed on the roof of the Mansfield city building, ready to be deployed by 911 dispatchers using automation. It’ll respond to police and fire calls within a 3-mile radius of the city building.

Bammann explained the process: “The coordinates of the call are sent to the drone.” This means the unmanned aircraft can be quickly dispatched to various situations, including:

Reports of armed individuals
Traffic accidents
Structure fires (using thermal imaging to identify hotspots)
Even parking complaints

Fire Department’s Perspective

Fire Chief Dan Crow expressed enthusiasm for the program: “We’re really excited to try out this innovative drone program. In typical fire department responses, using a drone for aerial assessments has often been an afterthought. This program will change that, allowing the drone to be enroute with our responders for immediate situational awareness during structure fires, auto accidents or hazardous materials calls.”

Timeline and Testing

While the drones haven’t arrived yet, demonstrations and the test period are slated to begin in November. This trial run will help Mansfield’s first responders gauge the effectiveness of the DFR technology in real-world scenarios.

DroneXL’s Take

This pioneering move by Mansfield aligns with a growing trend of drones being used for good in public safety. We’ve seen similar programs popping up across the country, with drones proving their worth in search and rescue operations, disaster response, and now as first responders.

The potential for drones to provide crucial real-time information to first responders can’t be overstated. They offer a level of situational awareness that was previously unattainable, potentially saving lives and resources. As more cities adopt these programs, we’ll likely see a shift in how emergency services operate, with drones becoming an integral part of the first response toolkit.

What do you think about Mansfield’s new drone program? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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