Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A COMPANY FROM Cork has developed a safety gadget that warns people if their electronic devices such as chargers are getting too hot by sounding an inbuilt alarm.
Firemole recently won the Most Innovative Product Award from Enterprise Ireland (EI) at the New Frontiers Entrepreneur Development Programme Showcase.
The startup’s founder, Seán Ó Tuama, is a qualified electrician and saw first-hand many homes and buildings destroyed by electrical fires.
“There has been a 35% increase in residential fires caused by electrical faults and children have, on average, 10 electronic devices in their bedroom including phone chargers and tablets,” Ó Tuama said.
With increased use of electronic and electrical devices in the home over the last number of years, there has not been a similar growth in safety devices to protect families and their homes from faulty, ageing or counterfeit equipment.
The Firemole gadget can be attached to any electronic device and sounds an in-built alarm if a dangerous temperature is detected (over 54°C).
After starting development nine months ago, the startup is aiming to launch in Ireland and the UK in July. One device will cost €19.99, three devices will cost €45 or 10 can be bought for €119.99.
“Fires caused by electronic devices over-heating, in particular phone chargers, are becoming more common … For parents, it is a real worry if their children have a number of electronic devices in their rooms.
“That’s why we set the alarm at 54°C, which is the temperature at which skin can be damaged,” Ó Tuama said.
The product is primarily manufactured in Ballincollig in Cork.
The company, based at the Rubicon Centre at Cork Institute of Technology, has received €15,000 in funding from Cork City Local Enterprise Office and a €5,000 EI innovation grant.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The Mercy has been overwhelmed for a very long time now, this was inevitable. There have been documented accounts of fights at the front door and violence inside the A&E. Overcrowding in the A&E and lack of beds is only going to escalate tensions and potential conflict. A review now is insulting a very much too little too late. I feel sorry for the staff having to deal with this, it’s very much not an isolated incident. Management, the HSE and the minister need a proper response to this, not a short term fix. RIP to Mr Healy and sympathies to his family, horrendous news.
Typiclal Union attempting to score points. Show some respect ffs
@SquideyeMagpie: The INMO has highlighted this issue well before this incident. There has been 33000 assaults on nurses in the last 7 years.
@Maria: Sick society.
It saddens me that this type of violence has crossed over into our Hospitals and the safety of those nurses and doctors is further put at risk. We all know this has been a long time coming, from drunks overcrowding A&E’s to drug addicts to mental health issues. But yet the priority by the I.N.M.O. and Phil Ní Sheaghdha is solely pay ( I totally get and support the pay issue), whereas the priority should surely be about safe working conditions and safety for patients. Are issues like safety, recruitment, i.e. more staff, agencies and the training and keeping of more nurses. Are safety conditions not more worthy of strike action than pay. It is not that the H.S.E. and I.N.M.O. etc don’t know what the problems are, it is that they don’t want to be bothered by trying to find a solution. E.G. Last week the HSE paid out E31m in compensation in a birth case, which has been an ongoing issue for years but it keeps on happening, that money and the excessive amounts paid to recruitment agencies could be pumped back into Health. Two weeks ago
Perhaps Minister Neale Richmond could do what Damien English failed to do and challenge the injunction Top Security have opposing the ERO for security workers who are stuck on €11.65/h since 2019
have your say