Dreamcloud Productions, a Los Angeles company, has been selling the Dreamhelmet on its website since 1998, as a unique sleep aid, for traveling and home use. It is a sleep mask, attached to a pillow with sound-blocking foam on the inside. It is the only sleep mask that will also keep your head warm.
Dreamhelmet has numerous other features: it can also be converted to an attachable pillow, forming a sort of wraparound ear muff pillow – or into a comfy muff for the hands and forearms, and has built-in secret pockets.
The Company wants to more strongly emphasize the safety aspects of the Dreamhelmet, especially considering the severe weather conditions and frigid temperatures that lately have taken many parts of the country by storm.
This was highlighted by the recent tragedy involving the family stuck in a snowstorm on a country road in Oregon. The husband left his wife and two young children in the car and went off alone to seek help, and was later found dead from the cold, although the wife and children were rescued.
To illustrate the problems caused by the cold, we borrowed this text from the Alpine Education Handbook:
“Normally, the arms and legs are used as a radiator to remove excess heat from the body. The blood vessels open wide (dilate) and blood flows close to the surface. The blood carries heat from the body core to the skin where it is cooled by perspiration.
When it is cold, the body closes the blood vessels down (constrict), reduces the blood flow to the surface, and can even reduce blood flow to the extremities. This is what leads to hands and feet getting numb when cold. That’s why they’re susceptible to frostbite.
However, your brain needs oxygen to function, so the flow of blood cannot be restricted to the head (brain) or neck (spinal cord). Therefore, a great deal of the body’s heat loss occurs through your head and neck. This is the core of truth in the old mountain man’s adage that, ‘When your feet are cold, put on a hat.’ Covering the head and neck reduces heat loss, and that allows the body to send blood back to the feet, or hands. Up to 75% of heat loss is through the head and neck.… An uncovered head and neck is a major source of heat loss.” (underlining ours)
Motorists should have a plan and know what to do in case their vehicle gets stuck or otherwise immobilized. Potentially as important as a spare tire and jack, a blanket, or a cell phone, a Dreamhelmet can help a sleepy driver have a refreshing nap, keep his hands warm, or serve as a wraparound head pillow to keep in vital body heat. The secret pockets can hold matches, an extra cell phone battery, or a few chocolates (for emergency use only, of course).
Blocking light and sound and providing a comfy pillow so the wearer can sleep anywhere, the Dreamhelmet has secret pockets near the temples that contain foam ear plugs. These pockets can hide credit cards, money, valuables, spare car or house keys or an alarm watch for a personal wake-up signal. The Dreamhelmet also converts to a simple small pillow, attachable pillow, hand warmer or muff.
100% cotton cradles the head and a choice of several attractive fabrics grace the outside. The Dreamhelmet costs $29.95 plus shipping. The direct 24 hour order number is (888) 918-5630.

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