Harris KhanHelmet-based technology has been nominated among the most promising startups by the WomenTech Network – the world’s largest community for women in tech, representing 161 countries and over 4,300 ambassadors worldwide.
Since the start of the pandemic, acquiring ventilators and having enough sedatives, as well as qualified clinicians, to operate them, has been a great challenge for the medical community worldwide. Seeking to alleviate the shortage, as well as provide the professionals with a better way to treat patients with acute respiratory failure—a prevalent symptom in severe COVID-19 cases—inspired a team of experts to launch a website introducing helmet-based ventilation (HBV) technology.
“Our goal was to share our niche expertise in the field and help healthcare professionals fighting in the frontlines to contain the pandemic,” said Aurika Savickaitė, MSN, RN, and team leader behind the initiative.
The helmet-based ventilation therapy is non-invasive, which results in less stress for the patient and shortens the recovery time. In some cases, they can help avoid intubation, which often leads to life-long damage, thus limiting risks for the patient. Compared to a typical ventilator, helmets are more cost-efficient to produce and can be made in underdeveloped countries. That said, they also have to be used in hospital settings by the clinicians.
Spreading awareness, gathering resources for new manufacturers, and other hard work paid off: recently the “subsalve” oxygen treatment hood gained FDA EUA approval. The HBV team continues to consult local, as well as experts from around the world, to help them build the so-called “bubble helmets” themselves at local facilities and equip their home market with the in-demand non-invasive ventilators, needed to treat most severe cases of COVID-19.
The success of the HBV initiative earned it the finalist spot in the “Women-led Startup of the Year 2020”. The winners will be announced on December 3rd, at the WomenTech Global Awards 2020, featuring 2238 contestants from 153 countries in 22 categories.
“We are incredibly thrilled to be nominated alongside other great projects that inspire not only ingenuity but also incredible perseverance to pursue set goals and overcome adversity,” said Aurika Savickaite. “Without a doubt, this is also a huge incentive for us to keep on spreading the word about helmet-based ventilation, uniting experts from all around the world and refining the technology further.”
The Womentech Global Awards 2020 is a natural continuation of the WomenTech Global Conference 2020, the largest virtual conference for women in tech. Back in March, when the world was going into the first lockdowns due to COVID-19, Anna Radulovski, founder and CEO of WomenTech, together with her team came up with an idea that would unite women entrepreneurs amidst the unprecedented circumstances.
“After the WomenTech Global Conference 2020, we received tons of positive feedback, many sharing about their hardships with uncertainty, job security and work-life-balance while working remotely and how the community inspired them to overcome them,” Anna Radulovski said.
“We understand the importance of celebrating small and big successes while adapting to a life in a digital-first world. This is why we want to give visibility and recognition to accomplished and aspiring female tech leaders as well as allies, working toward a more equal and inclusive world.”
People interested in attending one of the largest award ceremonies for women in tech can apply for an invite or get tickets for themselves or on behalf of the company they work for via the WomenTech website. More details on the event, as well as any updates, can be found at https://www.womentech.net.
ABOUT HELMET-BASED VENTILATION INITIATIVE
Helmet-based ventilation initiative was born as a private endeavor of experts and professionals in the field, most of them based in Chicago. The initiative strives to curate, consolidate and share the most niche and up-to-date information about helmet-based ventilation, while connecting professionals in need of this know-how | www.helmetbasedventilation.com
ABOUT WOMENTECH NETWORK
WomenTech Network is the world’s largest community for women in tech with more than 4300 ambassadors representing 161 countries. Since 2018 its founders have engaged +141,000 tech specialists to join in building a diverse global community inspiring and reaching +1 million people in 2020 alone. The Network strives to increase gender diversity in the workplace to improve equality across all areas like representation, promotion and equal pay.
The Network’s mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated women in tech through leadership development, professional growth, mentorship, and networking events to make a difference by building impactful and inclusive technology, while introducing them to like minded people, inspiring speakers and opportunities at leading companies and innovative startups that aim to create diverse teams and a culture of belonging. More information: https://www.womentech.net/
