As the ski resorts have filled up with adventurous skiers and snowboarders as the snow sports season is in full swing, injuries have become an inevitable consequence.
Although the complete elimination of accidents on the slopes is unlikely, numerous brands have implemented new technologies in their products to increase the safety of the risk takers on the snowy mountains, and Twiceme HTH-Technology is one of them.
Help the Helpers platform
In 2023, Twiceme Technology went from being a one-feature product to a multiple-feature product, a Help the Helpers platform.
The features that the HTH platform offers can be grouped into two different domains, the emergency domain which helps construction workers after an incident has occurred, and the non-emergency domain which aims to help prevent accidents from occurring or, at least, decrease the seriousness of accidents should they occur.
Before an Accident (Non-emergency features)
Twiceme supports the prevention of accidents by monitoring the health of the equipment – thus contributing to a better safety culture on the adventures.
Equipment Health
Through this feature, end users can keep track of their equipment’s health and get notified every year
The helmets that Twiceme HTH-Technology is being integrated into have an estimated lifetime, however, not every helmet wearer is following the recommended lifetimes of their helmets. The primary reason is that they are unaware of the existence of a helmet's lifetime.
The average lifetime of a sports helmet is 5 years, however, dropping the helmet on the ground or hitting the head while wearing it can affect the lifetime of the helmet.
Through this feature, end users can keep track of their equipment’s health and get notified every year of the remaining lifetime of the helmet. For the time being, this feature is available for selected partner brands such as Julbo and Salomon, but more brands are continuously being added.
After an Accident (Emergency features)
After an incident, Twiceme supports swift rescue responses and recovery with time-saving information.
Medical ID
Ten years ago when the three founders of Twiceme, eg. military professionals, were out in the fields, they experienced real-life situations where access to personal medical information was the difference between life and death. Thus, a tool was developed to assist rescue professionals and/or bystanders, in taking the appropriate actions in the event of an emergency, and that tool is the Medical ID.
Through this feature, Twiceme lets users upload their Medical ID onto various personal protective equipment such as helmets, goggles, and jackets. By tapping a smartphone's NFC antenna on the Twiceme symbol of an incapacitated person’s gear, a bystander can access their medical information which can speed up rescue scenarios in the event of an emergency.
Rescue Alert
In critical situations, every moment counts. 'Rescue Alert’ efficiently directs users to local rescue services and national professionals, enabling faster response times and ultimately better care and treatment for the injured person.
Currently, Twiceme guides over 200+ local rescue teams, and the network of teams continues to grow steadily.
- Precise location sharing
If an emergency occurs within a rescue area it is more efficient to call the local rescue patrol
The Rescue Alert feature was developed after conversations with rescue patrollers who gave the insight that ski and bike resorts generally have local ski and bike patrollers, with their phone numbers.
If an emergency occurs within a rescue area it is more efficient to call the local rescue patrol rather than the national emergency number.
However, if an emergency occurs outside of a rescue area, rescue patrollers do not have the jurisdiction to help visitors. Therefore, the rescue alert feature uses precise location sharing to determine if local rescue patrollers can be called or if the national emergency number should be contacted.
Friends Alert
In most cases, skiing and biking adventures are executed among friends and family. Through this feature, Twiceme allows users to virtually follow their friends and alert them in case they lose each other, or in the event of a less urgent accident that does not require the use of the Rescue Alert.
The Friends Alert feature can be particularly useful for parents of young children, as it provides added comfort by easily allowing them to follow their children and alert them in case they become separated from each other.
Get Back Timer
Twiceme created the Get Back Timer, a digital and effortless tool for this unspoken rule
In the outdoor and adventuring community there is an unspoken rule that when visitors are adventuring alone or in a remote area, they should tell a loved one (who is not accompanying them on adventures) where they’re going and what time they will be back. If visitors are not back at the given time, the loved one must give them a call.
Taking this into account, Twiceme created the Get Back Timer, a digital and effortless tool for this unspoken rule. The Get Back Timer automatically alerts friends with pertinent location information if visitors are not back at the designated time, for them to provide appropriate assistance.
- Automatic alert
This feature allows visitors to choose contacts who will be alerted with location information in case they are not back in the specified time. The selected contacts will be notified of the last known trail and position.
An automatic alert will be sent out regardless of whether visitors are in an area with an internet connection or not, due to the alerts being dispatched from the server with the last known position before losing the internet connection.
Conclusion
The non-emergency features, such as Equipment Health, actively contribute to accident prevention
In conclusion, as winter enthusiasts flock to ski resorts, the inherent risks of snow sports lead to inevitable injuries. However, the landscape of safety in these activities is evolving, with advancements such as Twiceme technology leading the charge.
This innovative platform transcends the traditional boundaries of PPE technology by introducing both non-emergency and emergency features. The non-emergency features, such as Equipment Health, actively contribute to accident prevention by informing users about the remaining lifetime of their helmets.
Comprehensive safety net
On the other hand, the emergency features, including Medical ID, Rescue Alert, Friends Alert, and Get Back Timer, provide a comprehensive safety net for skiers and snowboarders, offering timely assistance and crucial information in the event of an accident.
Twiceme's commitment to enhancing safety in snow sports is evident through these features, marking a significant stride towards a safer and more secure winter sports experience.