Heat Sensor Wristbands to Warn of Overheating Infants or Pets
Help me give my students an Arduino kit and connectors to create a wireless temperature sensor for the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition.
FULLY FUNDED! Mr. Purdy's classroom raised $565
This project is fully funded
Celebrating Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month
This project is a part of the Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month celebration because
it supports a Latino teacher or a school where the majority of students are Latino.
My Students
J.R.R. Tolkien once wrote, "Not all those who wander are lost."
A wall in my classroom was painted by my student, a talented graffiti artist.
The wall has the word "Think" sprawled across, with the Tolkien quote tucked in the corner. This wall is an ode to our students' opportunity to think freely. Our school is part of the District Reference Group H, which is the second lowest socioeconomic level a school can be placed in.
As a fifth-year, eighth-grade science teacher, I have already experienced the lack of funding our science program receives. The activities that we complete, both in and out of the classroom, are greatly restricted by the socioeconomic makeup of our student body, as well as the absence of a budget for laboratory supplies.
The students in our school come from very diverse backgrounds and cultures and often do not have the resources that allow them to succeed at higher levels. Many of the students are disengaged, with attendance less than 85%, but are often discouraged by the connections made at school. Despite this, they are very willing to work in school and take the opportunity to utilize the limited resources that are available.
My Project
As part of the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow campaign, my students have decided to create solar powered, heat sensor wristbands that can be connected to an app to alert a parent if their child or pet is accidentally left in an overheated car.
Heat stroke is a leading cause of death for children 14 years or younger.
According to KidsandCare.org, on average 38 children die each year from heat related deaths after being trapped inside a car. Even the best parents can’t know if leaving their baby in the car will lead to such severe cases. According to the American Association of Pediatricians, a child's body can heat up five times more than the average adult. When coupled with the fact that children and pets generally don't know how to open the windows, or doors, this can become a very serious issue before it is even realized. Our goal is to create a technology that addresses, and solves, this issue to create better tomorrow.
We can use various open-source technologies to track different temperatures and locations. To start, a temperature sensor such as the Adafruit DHT22 would measure the temperature. An Arduino of some sort would then receive its digital readout and if outside of the specified parameters, send an alert. We can potentially connect with an Adafruit FONA 808, using cellular technology, and a text alert would be sent out with the GPS location provided also by the Adafruit FONA 808. This alert could be sent to the owner’s phone with a time limit to take action. If not responded to in time, another alert could be sent to the proper authorities to take action. This device would also have emergency capabilities. If ever in immediate danger, a button could be pressed to instantly call 911.
More than half of students from low‑income households
Data about students' economic need comes from the National Center for Education Statistics, via our partners at MDR Education. Learn more
DonorsChoose is the most trusted classroom funding site for teachers.
As a teacher-founded nonprofit, we're trusted by thousands of teachers and supporters across the country. This classroom request for funding was created by Mr. Purdy and reviewed by the DonorsChoose team.