Most drivers enter their vehicles, fasten their seatbelts, and continue their driving duties. But for a certain part of the population, wearing this life-saving device comes with a lot of pain and discomfort. Cue the SupportBelt, an innovative solution created by Ford to help individuals who have recently undergone a mastectomy.
If you’re unaware, a mastectomy is the removal of breast tissue and other elements, such as lymph nodes, to treat breast cancer. Per the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common form for women in more than 150 countries, so this is more common than you’d imagine. Following a mastectomy, patients experience discomfort in the chest area, which is inflamed by the need to wear a tight-fitting seatbelt across one’s chest.
A Seatbelt Designed For Mastectomy Patients
When Lynn Simoncini, a creative director at VML, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2022, she didn’t consider herself an innovator. But after undergoing a double mastectomy, Simoncini soon discovered the pain associated with wearing a seatbelt across her healing chest. This made even short trips difficult, and with no solutions, she endeavored to come up with her own.
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After sketching out a few ideas, Simoncini’s concept led to the invention of the Ford SupportBelt, which will help the 100,000 men and women who undergo the procedure in the US each year. The SupportBelt is fashioned out of a soft and breathable foam that attaches to the seatbelt. It is said to relieve pressure and make driving more comfortable for those recovering from their mastectomy.
“I couldn’t believe there wasn’t a product made that makes your seat belt comfortable to wear and that also happens to look good.”
Free For Those That Need It
Simoncini shared the idea with Emily Obert, Ford’s experience design director. With guidance from the Ford team, which included Obert and design intern Rima Shkoukani, the SupportBelt came to fruition. “I was in here for long hours every single day, three weeks straight, just cutting foam and trying out different ways that it would form to a body,” said Shkoukani. The team also worked with Ford engineers to make sure the SupportBelt lived up to Ford’s quality standards and worked with different materials. In the end, a low-volatile organic compound foam wrapped in recycled plastic fabric was used, along with a Velcro fastener.
Ford is the first automaker to offer the SupportBelt and will provide the comfort-enhancing device to mastectomy patients in the US at no cost. Individuals who require the SupportBelt can order one at www.ford.com/supportbelt. Expertly crafted with input from patients and doctors, the SupportBelt makes driving a lot easier for those who have undergone a mastectomy, and it can be used on the driver or passenger side seatbelts. What’s more, it supports people of all shapes and sizes. It’s safe to assume this system is compatible with seatbelts of all kinds, and not just Ford models like the Bronco Sport and Mustang.
“To know that an automaker is really thinking about the person, the whole person… and is doing research around things that make women more comfortable… I think is really great.”
– Najah Woods, a motorist diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023.
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