This wristband is saving lives of thousands of babies
Every year, an estimated 15 million babies are born prematurely around the globe. Preterm birth is a major risk factor for hypothermia. To address this concerning issue, a Bengaluru-based start-up called Bempu Health has invented a wearable device, which senses hypothermia risk and sends alert signals. The Made-in-India device is now helping save new lives in far off Papua New Guinea. Here's more on this.
What is Hypothermia and why is it dangerous for kids?
Hypothermia is a medical term to define the state of human body when its temperature falls to dangerously low levels. While normal body temperature is around 98.6°F, hypothermia occurs when the same slips below 95°F. Since newborn babies aren't capable of regulating their body temperatures, they are at an increased risk of falling prey to hypothermia, which is dangerous, and at times fatal.
India ranks first in number of annual preterm births
Preterm birth happens when the baby is born at lesser than 37 weeks' gestational age. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India is home to the highest number of annual preterm births globally. The country witnesses over 8 million preterm births each year.
Bempu 'TempWatch' is saving thousands of lives in India, abroad
Coming back to the device, the Bempu Hypothermia alert device, termed TempWatch, was invented by Ratul Narain in 2016. As of today, the bracelet device is extensively being used by United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to save newborn babies from succumbing to hypothermia. So how does it work? The Bempu TempWatch comes with a built-in algorithm that sends signals.
How does the Bempu TempWatch work?
The signals alert the parents or whoever is around when the child is hypothermic or is about to slip into hypothermia. If the device starts blinking a blue light, it means that the baby is warm. And, if an orange light and an alarm sound is set off, this implies that the baby is entering hypothermia. A timely alert can, hence, save lives.
UNICEF hails the tiny bracelet that is saving babies' lives
The device is priced at Rs. 2,499 per unit
This Hypothermia-alert device by Bempu is available at an affordable price of Rs. 2,499 per unit. The device can be bought online from the Bempu shop. The bracelet, available in pumpkin and baby blue colors, is capable of working for four weeks, when fully charged.
'Wanted to create something that would have a massive impact'
Bempu Health is headed by Ratul Narain, a Stanford University alumnus. Ratul's work in the neonatal health space led him to start Bempu and innovate the TempWatch. "I wanted to create something that would have a massive impact... If you make a difference to a baby's life, it actually has a drastic impact on the next 60-80 years of their life," Ratul says.
