The A to Z of 2008's Great Ideas ----A
Air Bags for the Elderly
By JEFF STRYKER
Elderly people reasonably dread falling: falls are the leading cause of death from injury in adults 65 and older.
Perhaps they need not worry anymore. This month the Japanese company Prop begins selling a wearable set of air bags to protect against falls. The device looks something like a fishing vest with a fanny pack attached. When its built-in motion sensors detect a fall, it inflates two air bags — one around the hips, the other around the neck — in a 10th of a second. Instant Michelin Man. It retails in Japan for approximately $1,400.
Wearable air bags are not the first try at a technological fix to reduce injuries from falls. Foam hip pads, a cheaper and decidedly lower-tech approach, have also been used, though with mixed results.