Yorkshire Care Equipment launches industry-first fall protection device into the UK market
Mobility aid supplier Yorkshire Care Equipment has launched the Hip’Guard Hip Protection Belt into the UK market, a protection device which uses motion analysis, fall detection, and airbag technology to protect the wearer from hip fractures during a fall.
The firm launched the device at a virtual event on April 22 which was attended by over 500 fall prevention specialists and other healthcare professionals.
The Hip’Guard is the third fall assistance and protection device released by the company in 14 months – following its Raizer II and Raizer M falls lifting chair launches in January 2020 and January 2021.
George Hulbert, Sales Director at Yorkshire Care Equipment, said: “We are thrilled to be bringing Hip’Guard to market as the exclusive UK distributor.
“Statistics repeatedly show the significant risk that falls – and hip fractures especially – pose to the older people in our communities. 90 per cent of hip fractures are caused by falls.
“After a hip fracture, two in four older people will never recover their independence and, sadly, one in four will die within a year. Our team are always looking for new solutions that can change care for the better. Hip’Guard ticks that box for us.
“Crucially, it has been shown to effectively reduce the risk of hip fractures. But it’s also a product that is comfortable and practical for our customers to use. The belt is discreet, lightweight, and comes in multiple sizes.
“At our core, we’re all about enhancing quality of life. So, any wearable device we launched had to prioritise maintaining users’ confidence and independence.”
The device is worn like a standard belt. With built-in motion sensors, the belt uses a validated algorithm to analyse the wearer’s movements over 1,000 times per second.
When a fall occurs, the algorithm automatically detects the falling motion in 0.2 seconds. Then, in under 0.8 seconds, the concealed airbag inflates and surrounds the hip before the fallen person hits the floor.
The airbags have a horseshoe shape which protects the femoral neck by isolating it and spreading the force of the impact around the bone rather than onto it. The result is a high-level of shock absorption which reduces the risk of hip fractures.
One in three people aged 65 and over fall at least once a year. Hip fractures are one of the most serious injuries associated with falls in this age group, with trusts treating over 80,000 fractures each year.
Yorkshire Care Equipment hope the product will help the NHS face the challenges from falls among older people.
Hip’Guard is available to purchase direct from Yorkshire Care Equipment online, via telephone, or from their Harrogate showroom. A short explanatory video demonstrating the device can be seen on YouTube.
