By Kristie Bartlett

After being stuck in gyms and indoor workout facilities during the colder months, cyclists and runners are filling parks and roadways, relishing the warmer weather. Baseball diamonds and golf courses are teeming with players, and spring training is in full swing on high school and college athletic fields across the country. And while the shift to the outdoors is always welcome after a long winter, the sun can quickly warm to the point of danger for those who play ~ and work ~ in the heat of day.

To serve as a first line of defense against overheating and possible hyperthermia, ionX International has recently launched its Body Temperature Alert Patch, designed to help prevent heat stroke and potentially save lives. As the wearer’s core body temperature increases, the disposable, single-use ionX Alert Patch changes from black to bright yellow, warning the wearer if and when there is a danger of overheating. Once the individual has taken measures to return his or her body to a non-risk temperature, the patch will return to the original color. The patch does not react to external temperatures or humidity, and since the inks do not wear out, the patch will continue to change color and measure body temperature as long as it is worn.

Thermo-sensitive properties in the fabric of the Alert Patch respond to core body temperature changes, allowing it to indicate rise and fall of temperature. When the wearer’s core temperature reaches elevated levels, the Alert Patch begins to change from black to a vibrant shade of yellow that is easily visible, even from a distance as far away as the sidelines.

With the same characteristics of a cotton bandage, the Alert Patch is round, elastic and waterproof, staying securely in place during physical activity. Due to the nature of the adhesive, the patch is designed for a single use. To accurately measure core temperature, the Alert Patch is placed on an area with blood vessels close to the surface of the skin on the neck artery; the bicep just before the inner elbow; the inner forearm just before inner elbow; or the inner wrist just before the hand.

Human beings suffer heat-related illness when the body’s temperature control system is overloaded. The body normally cools itself by sweating. In certain conditions, such as high humidity, sweating doesn’t cool the body effectively and body temperature rises rapidly, which can damage the brain or other vital organs. Other factors that can limit the body’s ability to regulate temperature include obesity, fever, dehydration, heart disease, poor circulation, sunburn and drug or alcohol use.

The ionX Alert Patch is sold in packages of 10, 30, 100 and 500 through a network of more than 550 preferred retails outlets including The Sports Authority and select Hibbett Sports.

Check out www.ionxalert.com for more information and to order.