The 2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games have been engulfed in a dark light since their announcement and the recent issues with the Zika virus have only heightened the trepidations around the event.
However, in an attempt to combat the outbreak of the Zika virus and its growing nature, Kinsa, a healthcare product provider, announced it will donate its trademark, Smart Stick Thermometer, to Team USA’s Olympic athletes and companions.
Kinsa’s Smart Stick Thermometer combined with its companion app provides an individual with his or her temperature readings as well as symptom tracking and next step recommendations based on the user’s age and health indicators. The lack of a built-in battery allows the thermometer to be lightweight, flexible and slim which makes it convenient for travelers.
The companion app features a “groups” section which allows users to anonymously share data. Olympians in Rio are encouraged to join the Kinsa Olympic Village Group to see the symptoms and illnesses reported by others nearby.
Tropical regions are known for illnesses including Yellow Fever, Dengue and Chikungunya all passed through infected mosquitoes. As the outbreak of Zika expands, U.S. Senators and the U.S. Olympic committee have discussed how athletes will be protected in Rio and some teams have even moved their training facilities.
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The Zika virus is a serious matter which has recently burst onto the scene and has Olympians second guessing participating this summer.
The World Health Organization says Olympics should go ahead in Brazil despite #Zika virus. https://t.co/3cKSAjVWYf pic.twitter.com/BkNYAMpc3y
— Kinsa (@kinsa) June 15, 2016
“Zika virus has been relatively unknown to most of the general public until recently; tracking exposure, signs and symptoms will help inform the spread of infection,” says Dr. Beth Seidenberg, partner at KPCB and Kinsa board member. “One of the important actions during a potential pandemic is to track temperature, symptoms over time and location of the infected person. With the Kinsa thermometer this is now possible. That way if you should fall ill, your doctor will have the information he or she needs for diagnosis and early treatment.”
The Smart Stick Thermometer’s design, technology and mission are represented thoroughly across its included features:
- Durable: has a flexible design, is battery free and will never stop working
- Comfortable: the probe is thinner and more flexible than typical thermometers, making it more comfortable
- Agile: can be used with iOS or Android smartphones
- Fast: ten-second accurate temperature readings
- Helpful: Kinsa’s companion app provides guidance and recommendations for what should be done next, based on key health indicators
- Recorded and time-stamped history: easily tracks symptoms, medications and photos as well as stores time-stamped temperature history for multiple family members
- Community-minded: indicates common symptoms currently being experienced nearby
Former Olympic athletes realize the pivotal necessity of staying in peak physical shape, and the effect the Zika virus may have on athletes.
2008 Olympics Men’s Artistic Gymnastics, Bronze Medalist, Raj Bhavsar said, “As an Olympian, I know that staying healthy is paramount, and that collecting data is a key component for ensuring you’re in peak condition. With the added concerns of Zika in Rio, I can appreciate what Kinsa is doing to help athletes stay on top of their health. If I were competing in this year’s games, I would encourage those traveling with me to monitor their health as well, bringing us all some peace of mind.”
The Smart Thermometer retails for $24.99 and is sold across online marketplaces and is on the shelves of more than 7,000 retail stores including Target, Best Buy, CVS and the Apple Store.
Go to your bathroom cupboards and toss out that old battery-run thermometer you bought 20 years ago. The Smart Thermometer is the health staple of the future, and plans to impact those Olympic athletes competing in Rio this summer.