As the time approaches for children to leave for college, many parents experience a mix of emotions: excitement, pride, and, often, worry. It’s a time of immense change, and with that change comes the inevitable anxiety about how their children will navigate the world independently. For some parents, this concern is amplified by the growing presence of fentanyl, which has tragically claimed too many young lives.
Steve Muth and Joanna Sawyer, MD, the co-founders of the ZEM Life Device Company, are trying to offer peace of mind during this transition with a smartwatch designed to save lives in cases of a fentanyl overdose and other medical emergencies. While fentanyl test strips and Narcan are publicly available, overdoses can happen when users are alone or unable to administer the medicine. Steve and Joanna hope that the ZEM Life smartwatch can help reduce the stress of these concerns for parents.
Origins of ZEM Life
Although the mission of the company is to save lives, ZEM Life originated after a tragic loss. In 2021, Steve lost his son, Zachary Ernest Muth, to an accidental fentanyl overdose. The grief that followed made him wonder if there was anything he could do to prevent other parents from feeling the same pain.
When Steve met Joanna on a blind date, he learned she was an anesthesiologist and shared more with her about his son’s death and his hope to help others. Joanna shared a similar goal of saving lives, and the two began to discuss the possibilities of a wearable device that could automatically inject lifesaving medication. Thus, ZEM Life, named after Steve’s son, was born.
A Tool for Parents During a Time of Transition
As children head off to college, parents often feel a heightened sense of worry. Will their kids make safe choices? How can they protect them when they’re no longer under their roof? While no tool can guarantee safety, ZEM Life’s smartwatch offers peace of mind for parents during this transitional phase.
The ZEM Life smartwatch will monitor for several signs of overdose, including pulse and oxygen levels. When signs of an overdose are detected, the watch will trigger an alarm to alert the user. If they do not dismiss it, the watch will then inject medication and send a GPS signal of their location to the authorities. This avoids false positives while ensuring an automatic response in case of a user’s inability to administer.
Sleek, Stylish, and Lifesaving
Each ZEM Life smartwatch is designed to be sleek and stylish while containing multiple medication cartridges customized to the needs of each individual. The company’s flagship medication will be Narcan, in honor of Zach. Still, the smartwatch is being developed to address other medical events like anaphylaxis, heart attacks, seizures, asthma attacks, venomous bites, septic shock, and more.
Ongoing Approval Processes and Claims
The ZEM Life Device Company is seeking approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its first signature Narcan cartridge and is working on other cartridge types.
Furthermore, the company does not claim that its information is a substitute for professional medical advice.
A Future of Safety and Peace of Mind
When development is fully completed and the FDA approves the company’s first cartridge, the lifesaving potential of the ZEM Life smartwatch will be realized.
Steve, Joanna, and the entire team hope the ZEM Life smartwatch will become a trusted tool that allows parents to feel more secure in the knowledge that their children have an extra layer of protection as they navigate the challenges of young adulthood.
