Outdoor safety becomes crucial in certain conditions: This innovative wearable technology promises to alert you.
Stepping into the sweltering heat day after day can be a matter of life and death for those who don't have the luxury of air conditioning or a stress-free job. One unfortunate incident in 2004 highlighted this issue: 53-year-old Asunción Valdivia tragically passed away on a grueling 105°F day when she collapsed after a 10-hour grape-picking shift. Fast forward to 2023 and 436 workers like her succumbed to environmental heat exposure, inspiring a bill in Congress to create safer labor conditions for extreme-heat jobs.
Exposure to such harsh temperatures is precisely what J. Walter Thompson's 1969 tagline warned: "It will heat up, cool it down, get bigger, get smaller," only now it's not just about fashion trends. It's about our physical well-being and future prosperity. By 2050, a report by the Atlantic Council estimates we could see 450,000 heat-related injuries per year and $500 billion in productivity costs caused by extreme heat if no meaningful action is taken.
The U.S. is home to a significant portion of these heat-related risks, but farm workers are disproportionately exposed. They are an unfortunate 35 times more likely to suffer a heat-related illness than other outdoor workers due to the nature of their jobs, and the already warming summer temperatures are exposing more people to this danger. As scary as that may be, there's a glimmer of hope on the horizon: cutting-edge technology is stepping in to combat this looming heat crisis.
Core Body, Cool, and Connected
Science has long been researching ways to gauge heat stress within the human body without relying purely on an individual's perception of it. One such approach involves the use of algorithms by the U.S. military, developed in 2013, that predict the odds of heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps with precision.
These algorithms measure subtle alterations in heart rate, skin temperature, and gait to calculate the risks of heat-related illnesses. It's not just the armed forces reaping the benefits of this lifesaving technology, either. The most advanced heat-stress algorithm to date is now being integrated into consumer devices like smartwatches, thanks to the work of Professor Zachary Schlader at the University of Iowa Bloomington.
Core body temperature monitoring is considered the gold standard for gauging internal body temperature and estimating heat risks. Unfortunately, existing wearable devices like the Apple Watch, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5, and the Garmin Watch lack this crucial feature. Epicore, a digital health company, is one step ahead with their sweat-sensing patches that measure electrolyte loss, body temperature, and body movement to help users stay hydrated and avoid heat-related illness.
Tackling the Heat: It's a Marathon, Not a Sprint
In a press release from 2024, Emma Atkinson of the U.S Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine declared the core body temperature algorithm to be the future of heat-stress management. In June of that same year, Sony released the REON Pocket Pro, a wearable that cools the body using a tiny cooling machine, and measures temperature and humidity with a separate sensor.
Initial tests of such devices in real-world work settings have shown promising results. For instance, a startup called VigiLife's heat-stress sensor, which costs between $100 and $300, saw zero heat-related illnesses and $200,000 in savings when it was adopted by the Texas-based construction firm Rogers-O'Brien from May to September 2023.
A Step Forward, Not a Cure-all
While these devices show great promise, not everyone believes they're the ultimate solution to heat-stress concerns. Jason Glaser, CEO of La Isla Network, argues that wearables are merely an alarm system and can't fully account for the various factors that contribute to a heat-related illness, such as a lack of breaks or shade.
Professor Schlader shares this sentiment, suggesting that only high-risk workers should wear such devices to save costs and prevent resistance from workers. Meanwhile, La Isla Network pairs weather and health data to create AI algorithms that predict heat strain on workers and advise the best times for outdoor work.
As with most innovations, more research is necessary to determine the long-term impact of wearable technology in industries. It's also a waiting game to see when core body temperature measurements will become a standard feature in everyday wearables like smartwatches and fitness trackers.
In the meantime, it's crucial to prioritize heat safety. If you find yourself working in extreme temperatures, be on the lookout for early warning signs such as cramps, dizziness, nausea, or a headache. For more tips on staying safe in the heat, visit the CDC's website.
- The tragic death of Asuncion Valdivia in 2004 highlighted the dangers of extreme heat for those without air conditioning or stress-free jobs, inspiring a bill in Congress for safer labor conditions in extreme-heat jobs.
- By 2050, a report estimates we could see 450,000 heat-related injuries per year and $500 billion in productivity costs caused by extreme heat if no meaningful action is taken.
- Technology is stepping in to combat the looming heat crisis, with cutting-edge algorithms predicting the odds of heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and heat cramps with precision, and being integrated into consumer devices like smartwatches.
- Epicore's sweat-sensing patches, measuring electrolyte loss, body temperature, and body movement, help users stay hydrated and avoid heat-related illness.
- While wearable technology shows great promise in managing heat stress, it's not a magic solution, and more factors like lack of breaks or shade must be considered for complete heat-related illness prevention.
