TAMPA, Fla. -- A Tampa Bay man developed a device designed to alert a person if they may have a fever.
Randy Kane and Craig Goldstein developed a temperature alert device known as "TAD." The device takes a person's skin temperature every 15 minutes.
“What makes TAD unique is that there is no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth attached to TAD, it’s a practical and viable way to visibly monitor an employee or student’s temperature on a visual and continual basis without invading their privacy, thus ensuring the comfort and safety of those around the person wearing the device,” said Randy Kane.
Kane said his cousin, Jeff Rose, came up with the idea for the device in May.
"His original thought was why can't somebody come up with one of those Armstrong type bracelet and put a thermometer in it and that's where it started," said Kane.
Kane and Goldstein brought the product to market. TAD is not a smartwatch or medical device. It is a wearable bracelet that remains illuminated with three colors: green, amber and red.
"So if your temperature range is in the normal range, it will stay green," said Kane.
The device alerts the person when their temperature is elevated.
"The average company, they're just taking temperatures when an employee comes to work and what happens if that employee could have taken a Tylenol or Motrin or something before they came in and that temperature would drop down of course," said Kane.
Port Tampa Bay employees recently started wearing the devices to work.
"When I saw the TAD, temperature alert device, I said this is technology that people use to wearing with Apple watches, Fitbits. It's very similar," said Paul Anderson, CEO and President of Port Tampa Bay.
Port Tampa Bay is Florida's largest port. Within the past week, fresh produce, consumer products and essential goods moved through the port. Employees are considered "essential."
"We bring the goods that everybody out there uses every day starting with gasoline. All the goods you find at stores so it was really important that we stay open for business. Our employees were working 24/7," said Anderson.
Dr. Julian Trivino, a Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician in Orlando, also worked with Kane.
“Being able to identify early fluctuations in temperature has the potential to save lives and keep those around us safe," said Dr. Trivino.
Anderson said the device does not replace temperature checks at Port Tampa Bay, but it is another tool to keep employees safe.
"We felt that this was just a very cost-efficient way to enhance what we're doing. It's another tool in the tool chest," said Anderson.
For more information on TAD visit: https://www.tadsafe.com/
