JAMES CITY COUNTY —- James City County has received a statewide award for RESTORe-CARE, an initiative that coordinates public safety, health and social services, including a program testing drone delivery of defibrillators to people experiencing cardiac arrest.
The Virginia Municipal League announced the county as the winner of its 2026 Innovation Award in the Public Safety category Sept. 11. The award was presented during the league’s annual conference in Norfolk in October.
One part of RESTORe-CARE involves a national study examining whether drones carrying automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, can improve survival rates for people experiencing cardiac arrest in rural areas.
The American Heart Association funds the study, which is led by Duke University and Virginia Commonwealth University. James City County is the first locality in Virginia and the second in the country to conduct real-world trials of the technology, according to the county.
The county completed the testing phases and began live operations Aug. 1.
Through its Drone as First Responder program, the James City County Police Department can dispatch drones carrying AEDs to suspected cardiac arrest calls. The study examines whether the drones can deliver the equipment before traditional emergency responders arrive.
During early testing, a drone delivered an AED in 2 minutes and 30 seconds, more than five minutes faster than the typical fire department response time in the same area, the county said.
The James City County Fire Department incorporates the drone-delivered equipment into patient care and evaluates its effect on survival rates.
According to the American Heart Association, each minute of delay before defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by about 7% to 10%.
The broader RESTORe-CARE initiative brings together public safety agencies, human services and community partners to connect residents with help earlier and coordinate responses to their needs.
The county encourages residents to learn hands-only CPR and how to use an AED. Residents interested in training can contact the James City County Fire Department.
