‘Safe bathroom’ technology prevents fatal drug overdoses in public restrooms

‘Safe bathroom’ technology developed by a Massachusetts electrician has been proven to prevent fatal drug overdoses in public restrooms across the country.

The systems use ultrasonic and infrared motion sensors connected to timers that detect slight body movements. When a system doesn’t sense motion within a set time period, it raises an alarm alerting emergency medical teams, according to a Boston Globe report.

To date, the systems have been installed primarily in medical settings and homeless shelters but could be added to any public restroom. The state of Rhode Island has ordered the systems for deployment at “hot spots” for overdoses.

The technology has averted more than 3,500 potentially deadly overdoses, according to the developer. Not a single person has died from an overdose after alarms have been triggered, he says.