Ribcap Soft Head Protection Hats for Fall Risk Patients

Author: Ribcap
Published: 25 Mar 2017 - Updated: 27 Jul 2026
Publication Type: Product Release, Update

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - Overview - FAQs - Insights, Updates - Related Content

Synopsis

This product information describes Ribcap, a protective headwear solution designed to prevent head injuries in fall-risk patients across healthcare settings. The information draws authority from independent testing conducted by Professor Rémy Willinger at the University of Strasbourg, which demonstrated significant head protection capabilities against diffuse axonal injuries and subdural hematomas. Clinical trials at UAMS Medical Center in Little Rock, Arkansas showed zero head injuries on the pilot unit since implementation in March 2015, with high patient and family satisfaction rates.

Unlike traditional medical helmets that patients often reject as uncomfortable and stigmatizing, Ribcap uses a soft viscoelastic impact polymer hidden beneath a regular-looking cap that locks up on impact, addressing the critical challenge that falls cause approximately 11,000 hospital deaths annually in the United States. The product serves elderly individuals, patients on anticoagulant therapy, those with low platelet counts, and anyone at elevated fall risk, offering a practical alternative that patients actually wear consistently - some even continuing use after hospital discharge.*

At a Glance

• 1 - Six sizes are offered, with small and medium fitting children aged 5 to 12.
• 2 - Ribcap is washable, breathable, foldable, and weighs 120 to 200 grams depending on size.
• 3 - About one in three adults over 65 falls each year, and a third of those falls result in injury.
• 4 - Brain, hip, leg, and foot injuries account for 78% of fall fatalities and 79% of fall related costs, with annual US spending projected to reach $47 billion.

Topic Definition

Ribcap Protective Headwear

Ribcap protective headwear is a line of soft, everyday looking caps and beanies built around a viscoelastic impact polymer that stays flexible during normal wear and stiffens instantly on impact, spreading the force of a blow before it reaches the skull. It was created for people with a raised risk of head injury from falling, including older adults, patients taking anticoagulants, those with low platelet counts or coagulopathy, and people weakened by illness, chemotherapy, or an unsteady gait. Unlike a rigid medical helmet, which many patients refuse to wear because it feels bulky and marks them out as frail, Ribcap hides its protection inside a familiar cap shape, so compliance tends to be far higher in hospitals, care homes, and at home. Independent impact testing at the University of Strasbourg examined its effect on diffuse axonal injury and subdural hematoma, and a clinical pilot at UAMS Medical Center reported no head injuries on the unit involved. In short, it is a wearable fall injury countermeasure that treats dignity and comfort as design requirements rather than afterthoughts.

Overview

Patient falls are the single largest category of reported adverse incidents in hospitals resulting in significant adverse outcomes and increased cost, and they continue to be a considerable challenge across the care continuum. While improvements have been made in reducing fractures from falls in the hospital setting, reducing head injuries has continued to be an issue in the hospital and all non acute settings.

• One-third of all people over age 65 will fall in the next twelve months, and one third of those that fall will suffer some type of injury.
• Approximately 11,000 fatal falls occur in US hospitals every year, and by the year 2020, the annual direct and indirect costs for fall related care across all healthcare settings is estimated to reach $47 billion.
• Brain injuries and injuries to the hips, legs and feet are both the most fatal and costly of fall injuries accounting for 78% of fatalities and 79% of fall related costs.

The Challenge

Although there has been evolution of technology for head injury prevention for sports, little attention has been paid to evaluating the application of these technologies to promote better patient outcomes. Medical helmets have been available for a number of years, but their use has been limited and compliance poor, as patients find them to be "unattractive", "uncomfortable" and feel they "draw negative attention".

The Solution

Designed with a viscoelastic impact polymer, Ribcap is a technologically advanced means of head protection hidden under a regular appearing cap.

Unlike a helmet with a hard outer shell, this protective cap is made of a soft, pliable polymer that locks up on impact. Independent testing by professor Rémy Willinger from the university of Strasbourg to evaluate the impact on diffuse axonal injuries and subdural hematomas has previously demonstrated that Ribcaps provide "significant head protection and may prevent head trauma in a number of head impact situations". With IRB approval, Ribcap was tested in an acute care population to evaluate patient satisfaction and clinical impact.

The Results

Ribcap was implemented in a pilot area at the UAMS Medical Center, Little Arkansas, US in March of 2015.

Patients prioritized for using Ribcap included those with:

• Low platelet counts
• Anticoagulant therapy
• Unsteady gait
• Weakness and fatigue
• Chemotherapy

Since initiation of the trial there have been no head injuries on the pilot unit.

Patients and their families have been overwhelmingly complimentary of the Ribcaps and they have even observed patients returning for subsequent admissions still using their Ribcaps. Use of the Ribcaps is being implemented across the hospital and the clinical criteria for using Ribcap has expanded to any patient with a coagulopathy or those at risk for a fall that staff feel would benefit from having a padded cap.

Features

Ribcap is based on a totally new idea: soft protection with style.

• Washable
• 100% breathable
• Foldable and storable
• Light and comfortable to wear
• 6 different sizes for a perfect fit
• Unique - no comparable product on the market
• XL: Lenny grey/anthracite
• Small & medium also fit children, small (5-8y) & medium (9-12y)
• Weight: 120g-200g (depending on size)

Frequently Asked Questions

NOTE: Researched FAQs by Disabled World (DW)

How do you wash a Ribcap?

Ribcaps are washable and are normally cleaned by hand or on a gentle cycle in cool water with mild detergent, then air dried flat. Avoid tumble drying, ironing, or bleaching, since heat and harsh chemicals can degrade the viscoelastic polymer layer.

Does Medicare or private insurance pay for protective headwear?

Coverage varies widely and protective caps are often treated as a comfort or personal item rather than durable medical equipment. Ask your insurer directly, and ask your physician or occupational therapist for written documentation of fall risk, since that paperwork sometimes supports a claim or a health savings account purchase.

How do I measure my head for the correct size?

Wrap a soft tape measure around the widest part of the head, roughly one finger width above the eyebrows and around the back of the skull, then compare that measurement in centimeters to the manufacturer's size chart. If you fall between two sizes, most people prefer the larger one for all day comfort.

Can a Ribcap be worn during sleep?

Many caregivers use them for restless sleepers and for patients who get up unassisted at night, and the soft construction makes this feasible. Check with the care team first, and watch for overheating, skin irritation, or pressure points, especially with patients who cannot easily remove the cap themselves.

Is a Ribcap the same as a bicycle or sports helmet?

No. A bicycle helmet uses a hard shell and rigid foam certified for a single high speed crash, while a Ribcap uses flexible padding designed for the lower speed, repeated impacts typical of a fall from standing or from a bed or chair. They are not interchangeable, and a Ribcap should not be substituted for a certified helmet when cycling or skating.

Will a protective cap work with hearing aids, glasses, or a shunt?

The soft, stretchable construction generally accommodates glasses arms and behind the ear hearing aids better than a rigid helmet does. Anyone with a shunt, cranial plate, craniectomy site, or recent neurosurgery should have the fit approved by their neurosurgeon or clinician before regular use.

Does wearing one replace a hospital fall prevention program?

No. Protective headwear is one layer within a broader strategy that includes risk screening, medication review, bed and chair alarms, safe footwear, adequate lighting, mobility aids, and staff assistance. It reduces the consequence of a fall rather than the likelihood of one.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: The development of Ribcap represents an intersection of engineering innovation and patient-centered design in fall prevention technology. While hospitals have long struggled with the tension between safety protocols and patient dignity, this protective headwear demonstrates that effective medical devices need not sacrifice aesthetics for function. The clinical evidence from UAMS Medical Center - particularly the absence of head injuries on the pilot unit and sustained patient compliance - suggests that acceptance of protective equipment increases dramatically when it integrates seamlessly into daily life rather than marking wearers as vulnerable. As healthcare costs from fall-related injuries approach $47 billion annually, solutions that patients willingly use represent not just clinical victories but economic imperatives for an aging population.*

Attribution/Source(s): This quality-reviewed publication was selected for publishing by the editors of Disabled World (DW) due to its relevance to the disability community. Originally authored by Ribcap and published on 25 Mar 2017, this content may have been edited for style, clarity, or brevity.

* Editorial additions by Ian C. Langtree.