[grow_thumb image=”https://telecareaware.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/belt.jpg” thumb_width=”150″ /]Editor’s Note: We are reprinting this article (originally from 23 November 2016) due to the comments by the CEO of ActiveProtective, Drew Lakatos, on 10 and 12 January, responding to the reasoned misgivings of one of our Readers. (Click ‘read more’ and scroll to comments at the end of the article.) This unusual step is being taken because this Editor believes that the problem is major–adults at high risk of falling and hip fractures. A technology solution such as this is worthy of examination by our Readers and further debate.

Do you believe older adults at high fall risk would voluntarily wear a belt that would deploy cushioning air bags around the hips in the event of a fall? This Editor was initially skeptical reading the MedCityNews article on ActiveProtective‘s $2.6 million Seed 3 round raise. The belt, looking at their photo and the one on the ActiveProtective website (left above), looks like a hard and uncomfortable ring, which didn’t make much sense as the ring in a fall impact could itself create injury. There was also a brief mention of fall detection but not how they worked together.

But before nominating this as a Thanksgiving Fowl, this Editor wanted to Dig Deeper. In their press, this TEDMED video with founder/presenter Drew Lakatos, while originally from 2014, explained its workings far better. (more…)