August 22, 2005 -- Scottish mother-of-three, Kelly Forsyth-Gibson, is to market her Thudguard safety hat to parents throughout the world, with the backing of UK development company Albyn Limited, which will distribute and support the product.
“ This can only be a good thing as even one accidental head injury is one too many.
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Available for infants aged seven months to two years, the Thudguard protective safety hat guards children’s heads against bumps, bruising and lacerations, while they develop and explore their new found mobility.
Ms Forsyth-Gibson came up with the idea after her youngest daughter - who was one at the time - fell and bumped her head and a subsequent search for a lightweight safety hat was unsuccessful.
In 2002, Ms Forsyth-Gibson was a finalist in the British Female Inventor of the Year awards and was also short-listed the year before for the Sir Ian Wood Award for Innovation. The product has been 6 years in development.
She explains: “Between the ages of seven and 20 months the fontanelle, temples and back of the head are particularly vulnerable when an infant is learning to walk.
“The Thudguard has been designed specifically to help protect these areas, absorbing and reducing the impact of any head injuries caused as a result of a fall or collision.
“It also protects adventurous toddlers who are already walking but who would benefit from extra head protection.”
Ms Forsyth-Gibson appreciates that falling over is part of growing up, but with more than 500,000 children’s head injuries recorded every year in the UK – some extremely serious – she believes the Thudguard is set to play a vital role in preventing accidental head injuries.
She continued: “It’s normal for children to sustain bumps and bruises occasionally as part of exploring. The damage to a falling toddler’s hands and knees can be an acceptable form of pain for learning, but a head injury can be traumatic and heart breaking for both infant and parent.”
This view is supported by top British and European medical experts and a new British testing standard has been written by same man who wrote one of the first cycle helmet standards.
Pediatric specialist, Dr Diana MacGregor says, “The Thudguard will be welcomed by many parents as a piece of equipment that may provide protection for children from a head injury,” she said. “This can only be a good thing as even one accidental head injury is one too many.
“In addition, avoiding head injuries means reducing potential visits to the accident and emergency department, which could potentially save hospital resources.”
The UK has supported and embraced the safety concept and medical center’s, kindergarten and pharmacy’s across the region are displaying the Thudguard “Head Injury Advice” poster, written by pediatric specialist, Dr Macgregor, which is free and can be requested through the Thudguard website.
Thudguard is the only product of its type in the world that complies with safety standards and the only product endorsed by Children’s Accident & Emergency experts.
For further information about the Thudguard contact or Kelly Forsyth-Gibson direct on
+44 (0) 1224 325719, email e-mail protected from spam bots or visit www.thudguard.com\
