The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under its Science and Technology Directorate announced an award of $161,600 to Kenzen, Inc., a Kansas City-based company, to develop wearable technology that helps prevent heat-related injuries for personnel who work in extreme weather conditions.
As one of the first applicants to receive an award under this topic, Kenzen, Inc., founded and led by CEO Heidi Lehmann, developed a heat illness prevention solution that uses a combination of a wearable sensor and advanced analytics to identify and alert users to changes in core body temperature and other specific factors. This information identifies heat stress so wearers can take preventative measures sooner, reducing the risk of serious illness.
“Kenzen’s technology will safeguard the wellness of our agents who often find themselves in unpredictable environments throughout their workdays,” said Jeremy Ocheltree, deputy director of the Customs and Border Protection Innovation Team. “This type of innovative tech could protect our employees and save lives.”
This solicitation complements current DHS employee wellness programs by including innovative technologies with a high degree of usability to support real-time wellness monitoring. Kenzen’s heat-stress mitigation solution could deliver important information to workers in extreme heat environments, addressing a critical health challenge that impacts the DHS mission.
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