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Could this 'Homeless Wrap' be saving lives on the streets?

Emily Duffy, a student from Limerick, has been displaying the ‘Homeless Wrap’ idea this week as part of the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition.

DESPITE BIG EFFORTS over the past number of months to provide more beds for the homeless – there remains a population of rough sleepers across Ireland.

People can choose to sleep out for a number of different reasons. These can be because of conditions in hostels, problems with addiction or a person’s personal preference.

This brings with it a number of problems. Rough sleepers are vulnerable and find themselves exposed to a number of dangers.

Emily Duffy, a student at Desmond College in Limerick came up with the idea of a ‘Homeless Wrap’ after volunteering with homeless services in her local area.

Video TheJournal.ie / YouTube

The wrap itself is waterproof, non-flammable, retains heat and has reflective strips to make it more noticeable.

Displaying her idea at this year’s BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, Duffy stated that her hopes of going forward with it would “not necessarily mean winning a prize” but seeing the product become more widely available.

As her next step she plans to bring the idea forward for mass development. This would be done on a not-for-profit basis and is currently seeking sponsorship from local businesses.

Video TheJournal.ie / YouTube

Read: “They don’t teach you this in med school”: Caring for the most vulnerable at Christmas

Also: Jonathan Corrie’s family slept out last night on the spot where he died

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    Mute Right Wing Steve ©
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    Oct 16th 2013, 1:39 PM

    Twitter is this years facebook, which was last years Myspace, the emperors new clothes

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    Mute Philip Kenna
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    Oct 16th 2013, 1:25 PM

    How do you keep trading with growing yearly losses?

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    Mute Patrick Slattery
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    Oct 16th 2013, 1:51 PM

    Either you have the capital or you borrow from the bank.

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    Mute Mickey Mouse
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    Oct 16th 2013, 6:19 PM

    Yeah exactly but the bank or the lenders get guarantees they will be looked after when this day comes. Twitter really needs to start monetising its traffic a lot better and soon!

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    Mute Truth Patrol
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    Oct 16th 2013, 1:42 PM

    #burn

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    Mute jack arse
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    Oct 16th 2013, 5:00 PM

    #shitter

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    Mute Emmet Walsh
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    Oct 16th 2013, 7:59 PM

    I’m sure the majority of Twitter users would pay a yearly subscription of as little as $10 a year. Even if half of their active users wouldn’t pay they would still make a fortune.

    I don’t get why they haven’t done this already.

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    Mute brendan harlowe
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    Oct 16th 2013, 10:08 PM

    Who would seriously pay to twitter? I’m
    Still looking for more friends on bebo!

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    Mute Caolán McKenna
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    Oct 16th 2013, 1:15 PM

    Royal Mail

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