WheelAir: No more overheating for wheelchair users

How did the idea of the temperature control system come about?

Corien Staels: The very first WheelAir was brought to life in 2015 during my final university project for my textiles degree. My university tutor, who was a wheelchair user, told me of the problems associated with overheating. I thought: Why don’t I solve that?

Looking into the issue of overheating further, I learned that overheating in a wheelchair is not only very uncomfortable but also potentially dangerous. Furthermore, I learned that people were using ice-packs and water sprays to keep cool. It seemed ridiculous that in this day and age, there wasn’t a technological solution.

So, I came up with the WheelAir concept. A simple idea that has already made a lot of impact. The WheelAir system is designed to remove excess heat and moisture from the backs of wheelchair users and cool their core temperature. Not only this, the team is working hard to build a stylish brand that wheelchair users can relate to. WheelAir has been described as ‘a breath of fresh air’ in the industry. Best of all, WheelAir is already changing lives. One user, Jay, told us when she first tried the WheelAir that it was the first time in 20 years that she had been able to sit it in the sun without overheating. It was a momentous moment for both Jay and I.

What (technical) facts make WheelAir stand out?

Staels: WheelAir is the first temperature control system designed specifically for, and to fit all wheelchairs. Through active airflow, WheelAir allows for self-regulation of the body temperature through convection, conduction, and evaporation heat loss. V2 WheelAir has some pretty amazing features, such as the battery, which can last up to 27 hours, a 2 hour charge time, the wireless remote, five fan settings, and a 6th super-boost setting, and the durability of the fanbox. We designed the WheelAir to maximise the cooling comfort for the user, the usability, durability, and the level of control the individual has. The ideal skin temperature is 32˚C, however by using a standard backrest/cushion, the temperature quickly rises to 36˚C or more! With WheelAir, we bring skin temperature right back down.

To what extent does WheelAir contribute to a self-determined life of wheelchair users? What kind of feedback do you get – for example, at REHACARE?

Staels: Overheating and over-sweating are significant issues that have an impact on someone’s ability to carry out their daily activities and their general wellbeing. Additionally, there are also medical consequences as well, such as heat seizures, muscle spasms, and other issues that affect the feeling of wellness. Overheating can make some feel loss of control, anxious, it can be quite stressful, exhausting, and it’s life-limiting. You’re not able to participate in the activity that you were doing or are doing because they don’t have the mechanisms to cool down.

Our goal with WheelAir is to not only improve one’s ability to manage their temperature but, in doing so, to fulfill their life activities and get busy living. To be more specific, our Clinical Indications show that WheelAir can lower one’s skin temperature by 2.5ºC in 5 minutes and 8ºC in 30 minutes. The ability to better manage body temperature and keep skin dry helps individuals feel more comfortable to live their daily life without interruption, worry, or anxiety about overheating or over-sweating. This is a real bonus for their wellbeing and physical health.

REHACARE was the first time we displayed our newest version of WheelAir, V2. It was incredibly exciting to show off the changes we made and what these improvements mean for the end-user. Letting people try out the V2, getting feedback, and hearing the enthusiasm from people was a very rewarding experience for us.