AWARD YEAR
2015
CATEGORY
Body
GOALS
Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions
KEYWORDS
diseases, healthcare, epidemic
COUNTRY
United States of America
DESIGNED BY
Skunkworks Team - Johns Hopkins University
WEBSITE
http://www.jhu.edu
Hazmat Suit
A full body protective suit helping those fighting ebola
Fear of the Ebola virus has subsided stateside, but the epidemic persists in West Africa. The disease claimed some 8,000 lives in 2014, including 360 healthcare workers. The culprit, more often than not, was faulty protective gear or accidental exposure to the virus while removing the many layers of protection they must wear. A skunkworks team at Johns Hopkins University has developed a prototype protective suit to better shield healthcare workers on the front line of the epidemic. The suit—which uses several zippers and fasteners to fall off and peel outward, away from the wearer so they need not touch the outer surfaces. What exists is too warm in many parts, complicated to put on. This Hazmat Suit addresses all the needs of Ebola healthcare workers.