Elderly airbags unveiled

Updated 16.24 Thu Sep 25 2008
Keywords: japan, airbags, disabled, elderly

A Japanese company has unveiled a portable airbag to prevent the elderly or disabled from breaking bones if they fall.

Designed by Japanese company Prop, the protective airbags, placed behind the head and hips, inflate in a fraction of a second if a backwards fall is detected.

"If he or she broke a sidebone, it would force them to be hospitalised and that could lead to death as it weakens their physical strength" - Mitsuya Uchida

The president of Prop, Mitsuya Uchida, said the airbags can reduce damage by as much as 50 per cent.

He said: "There are a lot of elderly people who stumble and fall when walking and get seriously damaged.

"If he or she broke a bone, it would force them to be hospitalised and that could lead to death as it weakens their physical strength."

The 2.3lb units will go on sale at the end of this year with price tag of £754.

Mr Uchida said: "Considering the total cost of a couple of weeks in hospital and an operation for broken bones, this prevention tool will be much cheaper. So I think this will bring about positive economic effects for the users."

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