Some people view drones as toys, but they can be dangerous. In fact, about 1,000 people per year are injured from using drones incorrectly. To address the potential peril, two University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers are offering ways to keep people from getting hurt while using drones.
Yiannis Ampatzidis of UF/IFAS uses unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for some of his research. By using drones, Ampatzidis obtains thousands of images from high above fruit and vegetable fields. Those images give him and plant pathologists the tools to help count trees and identify pests and diseases.
Because of his frequent use of drones, Ampatzidis co-authored a new UF/IFAS Extension document with fellow UF/IFAS researcher Serap Gorucu. Gorucu studies agricultural safety and health.
Gorucu and Ampatzidis studied data for patients treated from Jan. 1, 2015 to Dec. 31, 2020, as provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System. They found that about 4,250 people were injured by drones. Of the injured patients, 21% were younger than 18 years old and 84% were male. The two most common injuries were lacerations (72%), followed by scrapes and bruises (10%). Fingers were most frequently injured (56%).
“The majority of drones used in the United States are consumer drones and are used for recreational purposes,” said Gorucu. “In the last five years, their popularity has increased.” As of 2020, about 1.7 million drones were being used in the United States for recreational, scientific, commercial and military operations, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“Drones can cause injuries because of their quick movements and because they include rotating parts, sharp blades and edges,” Gorucu said. “It’s not just the drone users that can get hurt; it’s other people around the drone. They can lose some of their hearing.”
To stay as safe as possible, here are a few recommendations from the FAA:
- Keep your drone within sight.
- Do no fly a drone over people.
- Fly during daylight.
Here are some additional tips from Ampatzidis and Gorucu:
- Keep your distance when taking off or landing a drone and keep at least 16 feet from all those surrounding the drone. When using drones around young children, be extra cautious.
- Keep your fingers and other body parts away from a moving propeller.
- Stay away from power lines: If a drone entangles with a power line, do not try to retrieve it.
- Before you operate the drone, read the user manual to learn safe operation.
Source: University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
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