Sleep Invention Offers Alternative to Deadly 'Drowsy Driving' - The Dreamhelmet Strives to Save Lives
The Dreamhelmet, a patented combination sleep-mask sound blocking pillow, launches a campaign to alert their customers and the public about the hazards of 'drowsy driving'. The release explains how planning ahead and the use of the Dreamhelmet can prevent accidents and protect automobile travelers in emergency situations..
Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) February 16, 2008
In October of last year, a disbelieving Colorado couple video-recorded another motorist erratically piloting her SUV for thirty miles on public roads, including I-25, while slipping in and out of sleep, at speeds up to 70 MPH. She miraculously escaped tragedy (and a collision with a semi-truck) - but many others are not so fortunate. At least 1500 people die in 'drowsy driving' crashes each year in the US. The figures on these accidents and deaths are considered greatly underreported and are likely much higher.
Other recent headlines have detailed the dangers that confront drowsy drivers. In England last month, Mathew Mather was sentenced to four years in prison for falling asleep at the wheel of his car, driving off the road and crashing, killing three of his friends. Unfortunately, it seems Mathew's tragic experience is one that could happen to almost anyone. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates there are, at minimum, 100,000 sleep-related crashes per year in the USA. They say 60% of drivers have driven while drowsy in the past year and that an estimated 32 million people actually fell asleep behind the wheel.
Drowsiness is a not just a problem for automobile drivers. It daily causes mistakes, miscalculations, and mishaps, wherever humans are managing machinery - ships and aircraft included. The November 7, 2007 collision of a cargo vessel with the Oakland Bay Bridge was blamed on a ship's pilot who fell asleep, causing a fuel oil spill that killed thousands of seabirds. The Staten Island Ferry accident of 2003, that killed eleven people, was blamed on a fatigued pilot asleep at the wheel. Pilot fatigue was cited by the NTSB as a factor several recent airline accidents.
The spotlight of public awareness is only recently being cast on the scope of the drowsy driving dilemma. One reason for this new awareness may be that the problem has actually gotten worse over the years, because of broad social changes in sleep habits. Sleep study figures show a dramatic drop in sleep time averages for Americans since the 1960s. As a sleep deprived motorist's metabolism slows down on a long drive, he can lapse into periods of 'microsleep' (episodes of sleep lasting a few seconds) then can finally nod off. Investigators often identify drowsy driving accidents by an ominous lack of skid marks or other signs of crash-avoidance maneuvers.
Many in the USA have called for laws against driving while very tired, and one such law was passed in New Jersey, called Maggie's Law, after a child killed in a drowsy driving accident. In Kentucky, recently introduced House Bill #183, if passed into law, would classify a fatal crash caused by a fatigued or sleeping driver as a reckless homicide.
Dreamhelmet inventor, Jim De Cordova, believes much more emphasis should be placed on education and helping fatigued drivers than on punishment. The Dreamhelmet offers today's tired drivers an alternative to risking dangerous drowsy driving. A quick nap in the car, at home, or work, is easy with a Dreamhelmet, a sleep mask sound-blocking pillow. It creates a cozy cushion between the wearer and the wide-awake world. Its patented triple sensory-suppression system helps users go to sleep fast, and sleep longer and more soundly. The Dreamhelmet fits in glove compartment or purse, and has two secret 'HiPockets' big enough to hide car keys, credit cards, money, or matches.
After testing the Dreamhelmet, KC Summers, veteran travel writer at The Washington Post, wrote: "I arrived in London relaxed and rested, having had four hours' uninterrupted sleep - a first for me on a transatlantic flight. And once there, I was able to hit the ground running because I had no jet lag to contend with - another first." Just as it prevented jetlag for KC, the Dreamhelmet can prevent driver fatigue, so when motorists hit the road running they don't accidentally hit something else.
Using a Dreamhelmet at home and work and always carrying another in the car could prevent many accidents. De Cordova also recommends carrying a blanket, a flashlight, a drink and a snack, and a book of matches in the Dreamhelmet's HiPockets for a complete emergency rest stop package, especially in rural or snowy areas. For a limited time, Dreamcloud Productions is providing a free alarm watch with each Dreamhelmet purchase, so nappers won't oversleep.
In cold conditions, the versatile Dreamhelmet transforms into a muff, a wrap-around pillow or a warm cover for the hands and forearms. Free foam earplugs are already stashed in the HiPockets. Not sold in stores, Dreamhelmets cost $29.95 and may be ordered by calling (888) 918-5630 or visiting: http://www. dreamhelmet. com (http://www. dreamhelmet. com)
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