Solar power bringing certainty to remote environments

As a design engineer, Emergency Medical Technician and passionate Community First Responder, I combined my 24 years of different skills to design, patent and manufacture the first solar eco powered cabinet to hold life saving devices without the requirement of a mains power supply.

Helped by some seed funding from local sponsors, I set up Eco Powered Cabinets using local firms to manufacture them.

The Eco Powered Cabinet is set to revolutionise the provision of AEDs and other emergency medical treatments in remote areas around the globe. It is the renewable energy storage box that saves lives.

The multi-functional solar Eco Powered Cabinet is made of high grade 316 stainless steel fand fitted with temperature-controlled settings and its interior contains secured individual sections. By maintaining the required temperature, the cabinet can be used to securely store defibrillators, lifesaving medication, EpiPens, trauma dressings/foil blankets and more.

The cabinet can be installed in locations where there are no structures present such as beaches, greenways, mountains etc. All parts of this unit are weatherproof against all conditions, allowing it to be installed in any part of the world.

Enhancing visibility and location

The cabinet has geo-location technology, allowing it to be found by the emergency services and its infrared light and Diamond Grade reflective material mean it can be seen at night. All cabinets must be registered with the relevant ambulance service. When an individual calls 999/112, the emergency call taker will be able to direct the caller to the nearest cabinet. The cabinet is unlocked or has a code on the front to access the defibrillator or whatever medical devices have been stored within it. If required the caller will also receive the code to access the internal medical unit .

When required, the equipment inside the cabinet can be replaced by the relevant healthcare provider or by the local Public Access Defibrator Scheme (PADS) coordinator.

Award winning

We were invited to be on Ireland’s The Late Late Show last year, where we joined their business special showcase. We were delighted to win one of three bursaries worth €15,000 to help us develop our product. Winning the National ‘Geoff King Award’ for lifesaving initiative at the National First Responders Conference (RESPOND) was also a real honour for us.

Future plans

We are shipping ten 10 cabinets to Australia next month where they will be used to hold anti -venom for snake bites. We are aiming to get the first cabinet on Mount Everest. As well as this, we are continuing to develop the product, with two new medical devices due to launch at the end of 2023.