Air Ring 49: Biomedical Cooling Accessory for Safety Helmets

229m outdoor workers face 19,000 heat-related deaths and 22.85m occupational injuries each year, worsening with rising temperatures [ILO]. Air Ring 49(AR49) is a contactless, ergonomic biomedical cooling additive for outdoor workers to prevent heat-strokes, enjoy working conditions, and recover valuable hours of productivity. Created from 48 prototypes across 3 years, AR49 seamlessly integrates with any safety helmet with two-clicks, uniquely directing airflow to high-sweat areas behind the neck and ears. In collaboration with The University of Hong Kong's Faculty of Medicine, AR49 is proven to effectively lower skin-temperature by 5.1°C and core-temperature by 0.67°C, demonstrating a whole-body cooling effect while avoiding headaches. At 155 grams, AR49 offers up to 15hrs of cooling per charge, ensuring comfort and minimal distraction. Doubling as a neck fan when off-duty, AR49 is waterproof and impact-resistant, pioneering a new standard of safety. AR49 is supported by HKU’s Faculties of Medicine, Architecture and Engineering, trialed and adopted by government and major construction companies, and numerously accoladed e.g.2024 James Dyson Award.