ADVANCED MEDICAL ELECTRONICS CORP — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: NICHD

Description

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Heat illness during practice or competition is a leading cause of death and disability among U S high school athletes In approximately million boys and million girls participated in high school sports There are various types of exertional heat illness EHI including heat cramps heat syncope heat exhaustion and exertional heat stroke EHS that are sources of concern for both athletes and medical staff Guidelines for the prevention and management of heat illness support a wide range of prevention strategies Unfortunately development of more aggressive prevention campaigns is hampered by a lack of basic descriptive data on EHI incidence and circumstances These epidemiologic data can assist public health professionals in the development and distribution of EHI interventions Proposed is a system that monitors athlete temperature and collects epidemiological data The system provides team and individualized risk based on many factors including environmental conditions acclimation history biometrics real time activity intensity and real time temperature PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Exertional heat illness affects approximately high school athletes each year and results in many deaths that are preventable Exertional heat illness can be prevented with proper education and tools for coaches and athletic trainers including athlete monitoring Known factors in exertional heat illness including environment biometrics acclimation real time temperature and real time activity levels can be used to determine athletes at risk