Wed Sep 18 03:49:00 UTC 2024: ## Illawarra Students Invent Life-Saving Device to Combat Hot Car Deaths
**Wollongong, NSW** – A group of bright young minds from St Pius X Catholic Primary School in Unanderra have designed a potentially life-saving device to combat the tragic issue of children and pets dying in hot cars.
The ThermoTrack, invented by Year 6 students Rome Golfo, Isaac Iera, Pj Pedron and Isaac Llamas, is a dashboard-mounted device that monitors the temperature and movement inside a vehicle. When the temperature rises above 40 degrees Celsius and movement is detected, the ThermoTrack will sound an alarm and send an alert to the driver’s phone.
This innovative invention was showcased at the Innovate for Impact event, a collaboration between the Department of Education and the Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDOW), which aims to foster STEM education and connect students with industry.
“We decided to do this because we had a lot of concerns for infants and pets dying in hot cars,” said Rome Golfo, explaining the inspiration behind the project.
The ThermoTrack is just one example of the impressive inventions created by Illawarra students at the event. Other projects addressed issues like soil nutrient depletion and plant disease, highlighting the innovative thinking of the next generation of problem-solvers.
The event is designed to encourage STEM careers and provide a platform for students to showcase their talents to industry professionals. “You create that authentic audience and they’re more motivated to go that extra step,” commented Ben Woods, CEDOW professional officer.
The ThermoTrack is a powerful reminder of the ingenuity and compassion of young minds. Its potential to save lives highlights the importance of investing in STEM education and encouraging students to think creatively about real-world problems.
First Piper 