RUBI Glas – a randomized, double-blind, low-interventional study to evaluate the effectiveness and functionality of the use of RUBI Glas filter glasses under laboratory conditions in healthy volunteers

In Germany, more than one million people are active in volunteer and professional fire brigades (de.statista.com). In 2020, fire brigade emergency rescue was the most common type of operation (www.feuerwehrverband.de), with over 2,300,000 calls. These rescue and recovery operations mean great physical and psychological stress for the emergency workers, as several studies have shown.

Therefore, preventive protection of firefighters against occupational hazards that can lead to chronic illnesses is particularly important. In addition to firefighting tasks, rescue and recovery operations are a particular challenge for firefighters. Berger W et al. determined in a meta-analysis that rescue workers had an increased prevalence of 10% for post-traumatic stress disorder compared to the general population with 1.3 to 3.5%.

In addition to the rescue workers, allocating with the accident is also a great physical and psychological burden for those affected and for people who happen to be at the scene of the accident.

Due to the fact that the accident victims are usually seriously injured with open wounds and blood loss, the emergency workers and those involved in the accident are usually presented with a devastated scene with red as the dominant colour, which is attributed a signal and warning effect. The research group led by Strauch BJ et al. provided evidence that the colour red has a more pronounced effect on the nervous system, especially on brain waves.

Based on the experience and learnings from rescue operations, the founders of the company RUBI Glas have developed a special pair of glasses that filters the red colour. These glasses are designed to reduce psychological stress and can be used in the following areas:

• Recovery after suicide (train accidents / fall from heights / use of weapons)
• Rescue and recovery after natural disasters / collapses / train accidents / crashes)
• Rescue and recovery after terrorist attacks
• Rescue and recovery after serious traffic accidents
• after factory/machine accidents
• for the protection of those involved in accidents
• for the protection of civilian first responders
• for protection in people with blood phobia (3% of all people).

In order to scientifically prove the effectiveness of the RUBI Glas glasses, the filter glasses are to be investigated during use under laboratory conditions (recovery situation) as part of a clinical study.

This study is being planned together with physicians and psychologists from the TU Dresden in cooperation with GWT-TUD GmbH as the organizer (CRO) of the study and will be carried out in Dresden.

The aim of this study is to comparatively examine whether the use of RUBI Glas filter glasses leads to less psychological stress for the rescue workers and those involved in the accident than without the use of the filter glasses. Thus, the effectiveness and functionality of the glasses should be scientifically proven.

In this study 52 participants aged between 18 and 40 should be included.

After a detailed information and explanation interview and after giving their consent, the participants will first be asked about their health status during a screening visit in order to check the inclusion and exclusion criteria defined in the study, since only healthy persons can participate in this study.

During a next visit in the medical facility, an accident will be reconstructed under laboratory conditions, in which the participant will be involved and confronted with the accident situation. At random, participants will experience the “accident scene” either with or without the filter glasses. During the time at the “accident scene”, predefined stress and vital parameters are measured and documented.

Participants will have a final interview with the involved physicians after approximately 1 to 2 weeks.

The pseudonymised data collected in the study are electronically recorded in a study database and statistically analysed at the end of the study in accordance with scientific guidelines. This should provide evidence of the effectiveness of the RUBI Glas filter glasses. A final study report will summarize all results and findings. In addition, a scientific publication of the study is planned in a scientific journal.