When anaphylaxis happens, there are two keys to survival:
1. Having people around you know you have an allergy, and understand how a reaction may present, and
2. Having those people act quickly and appropriately.
For those without life-threatening allergies, it's easy to assume that packing an epinephrine auto-injector is enough, but what happens when the victim cannot speak? For those suffering anaphylactic reactions, speaking is often impossible—imagine trying to explain an allergy with your throat swelling shut and blood pressure dropping to the point of unconsciousness? It's terrifying to imagine having a reaction in the midst of people who don't understand it.
Code4Armour aims to eliminate this risk by literally speaking for a patient when they're unable to do so for themselves. There are countless bracelets on the market, but when seconds count, it can be frustrating for paramedics to go searching to see if there are any health concerns. Developed by a paramedic, Code4Armour provides First Responders and EMS personnel secure access to critical Personal Health Information within seconds. It's hands-free, so they're free to listen to the information while administering life-saving treatment immediately.
Genius, right?
Code4Armous works in three parts:
The battery-free silicone band is shock- and water-resistant, making it suitable for all sports (where emergencies often occur). Designed with special needs kids in mind, the band is safe to carry anywhere, including inside X-ray machines and airport security scanners!
The Code4Armour Smartphone App (free) can display your Personal Health Information and, more importantly, it delivers the info hands-free through "VitalSpeak™," a text-to-speech engine that reads your info out loud to paramedics so their hands are free to save your life. It can display anything from a phone number to insurance information, even X-rays, medication dosages, or something specific, like, "If I have a shellfish allergy reaction, if would present like [this]".
The Code4Armour Secure Web Portal is a place for you to manage your Personal Health Information. You get to decide which information to include or exclude in your profile, and even specify unique information, like, "I carry an EpiPen in my right pocket."
And now you're wondering how exactly it works, right? Well, that happens to be easy, too. Paramedics would tap the band with their smartphone, and the phone presents them with your Personal Health Information as included in the web portal. Imagine the communication value of a device that can tell paramedics about allergies, asthma, diabetes, autism, or epilepsy? Code4Armour is busy working with EMS services around the country, and has forged a partnership with the United Way of York Region to bring the service to people of all ages who need this kind of protection.
Want One? Check out their IndieGoGo campaign!
And why not reach out to them to let them know what you think of the device? You can find Code4Armour on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and on their website.
How much do you know about anaphylaxis? Take this quick quiz to find out.
Why it is important we all learn about allergies even if we aren't affected by them.
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