AWARD YEAR
2023
CATEGORY
Body
GOALS
Good Health & Well-being, Sustainable Cities & Communities, Trust, Tolerance & Empathy
KEYWORDS
epileptic seizure, portable device
COUNTRY
United States of America
DESIGNED BY
Uma Smith
WEBSITE
https://www.jamesdysonaward.org/en-US/2019/project/cocoon/
Cocoon
A portable safe space to have an epileptic seizure.
How does it work?
Most epileptics feel the onset of a seizure. Cocoon is designed to be self-deployed during that time. The shaped cushion folds out, flanked by first-aid instructions on both sides. A built-in chip alerts a caretaker when deployed. Sensors detect the start of an episode and alert an ambulance after 5 minutes. The cushion is designed to fit the contour of a head and ensures that the epileptic lies on its side. The instructions provide the bystanders with the information to care for the epileptic.
Why is it needed?
Around 50 million people worldwide have epilepsy, with the risk of premature death up to three times higher than for the general population. The lack of care during an epileptic seizure is a poignant issue that needs to be resolved. There needs to be a product that can be deployed at the onset of a seizure, providing a safe space, and if need be, turning onlookers into caretakers.
How does it improve life?
Cocoon provides freedom and confidence to epileptics to pursue independent lives, it deploys in seconds and ensures that all first-aid requirements are available to epileptics – any time, anywhere.