IT’S GAME-ON FOR LIFE SAVING PRODUCT

Millions of gamers who spend hours at a time sitting still in front of a screen could soon have access to a brand-new gadget which could save their lives.

The RBR legflow™, which significantly improves venous blood flow in the lower limbs, could be sold alongside games consoles to reduce the risk of blood clots.

It was created by a team of experts with the help of Paul Westerman who has spent the last eight years researching the condition after surviving a massive pulmonary embolism in 2011.

“Gamers sit still for long periods of time,” he said. “So, we are looking to link up to the gaming industry and have this product incorporated into gaming chairs and to be provided alongside games consoles so it becomes part and parcel of the gaming experience.

“We think it is the responsibility of the industry to protect the people who use their games – especially younger users who are sedentary for long periods of time.”

The UKIE (the Association for Interactive Entertainment) estimates that there’s between 2.2 and 2.6 billion people within the global gaming audience.

And a recent study found that gamers as young as 12 have suffered and in some instances died of deep vein thrombosis.

Mr Westerman said “thrombosis within gaming really needs to be a research priority as it has been with air travel which is now recognised as an important risk factor of DVT,” he said. “Some people are now sitting for longer periods of time gaming than with long distance air travel.”

The RBR legflow™ helps improve the venous blood flow in the lower limbs of individuals when seated and fits comfortably underfoot.

Mr Westerman said: “Globally one in four people die from causes related to deadly blood clots and DVT and PE costs the NHS over £200 million every single year. But clinical research reveals many blood clots are entirely preventable.

“With this in mind, we would like to see the RBR legflow™ available in every environment where an individual is likely to be sedentary for more than one hour.”

As part of its design, the RBR legflow™ is manufactured with an antimicrobial ingredient which offers excellent protection against bacteria, biofilm, fungi and mould, and has no adverse effect on the RBR legflow™ properties.

Key facts:

• During sustained periods of immobility, like flying, the combined effects of venous pooling, reduced flow create the conditions necessary for thrombus activation
• The cost of thrombosis to the NHS is estimated at over £200 million a year.
• Globally this is a cost to health service providers of more than £22 billion each year
• More than 60% of all cases of VTE are associated with hospitalisation, with many events occurring up to 90 days after admission
• VTE affects approximately one in 1000 of the UK population and is a significant cause of mortality, long-term disability and chronic ill-health problems
• In Europe, there are 544,000 VTE-related deaths every year
• In the U.S. and Europe, VTE-related events kill more people than AIDS, breast cancer, prostate cancer and motor vehicle crashes combined
• In the UK, up to 60% of VTE cases occur during or after hospitalisation, making it the leading    preventable cause of hospital death
• Hospital-acquired blood clots cause an estimated 25,000 preventable deaths each year 

Risk Factors for DVT

Older Age                                 Immobility                                           Obesity

History                                     Pregnancy                                            HRT

Surgery                                    Hospitalisation                                     Oral Contraceptives

Long-Haul Travel                       Cancer                                                 Trauma

For further information – please contact

Paul Westerman           paul.westerman@rbractive.com

RBR Active™                  www.rbrlegflow.com