I can no longer work or drive an auto because I fall asleep with no
warning due to a medical condition called narcolepsy. A friend told me
that years ago her husband had a problem with staying awake while
driving and she found an alarm that he wore and if his head dropped as
in sleep the alarm would go off and emit an electronic noise that
instantly woke him up. I have searched for this to no avail. Could you
help me find one if they still make them? Thank you!

It's called the Doze Alert and can be bought from the webpage linked
below.

Additional Links:

Doze Alarm product page:
http://www.comforthouse.com/dozal.html


Search Strategy:

driving sleep alarm on google:
://www.google.com/search?q=driving+sleep+alarm


Hope this answers your question!

Thank you for the opportunity to answer your question, if you require
more information, please clarify the question, or if you find this
answer satisfactory, please feel free to rate it. Thank you!
   
skermit-ga

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Clarification of Answer by skermit-ga on 11 Jul 2002 23:47 PDT

Was my answer satisfactory for your needs? Please take the time to
rate this answer as I have not received a rating for it yet and am
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for your question, it was a pleasure answering it.

skermit-ga

greetings !

I found other similar products:

NapZapper. This is cheaper than Doze Alert
http://www.your-self-defense.com/napzapper.htm

This canadian company products might also be of
interest for you:
http://www.sleepydriver.com/sleep.htm

This is an old artile. take a look :)
http://www.businessweek.com/1998/30/b3588028.htm

Google Search Terms:
1. sleep alarm
2. drowsy driver alarm

best,
mohsen

You didn't give much infomation on the severity or type of your
narcolepsy.

Please, before trying any of the products, ask your doctor or
psychiatrist.
There is a world of difference between habitually sleepy drivers,
hypersomniacs, and narcoleptics.
A simple alarm or shocker may not be enough to keep you awake and on
the road. (Even loss of awareness for only a few seconds can be
extremely serious while driving a car)

I'm a fellow Narcolepsy sufferer.  I can tell you from experience (I
crashed my car before being diagnosed) that driving when you're
untreated is, in my opinion (and the court's in some instances)
negligent.  Some states disallow driving by Narcoleptics until they
have a period of time without a sleep attack.

A quote from the "Ask a Lawyer" section of this page says:
http://www.websciences.org/narnet/newsitems.htm 

"Among the most restrictive are California and New York, which
authorize initial suspension or revocation of the driving privilege of
an individual having a disorder characterized by "lapses of
consciousness". We do not often think of narcolepsy as a lapse or loss
of consciousness. However, both California and New York define loss of
consciousness as the condition of not being aware of one’s
surroundings, and the inability to receive, interpret, or react to
sensory impressions as the result of cataplexy, narcolepsy, and other
disorders affecting consciousness or control. (Cal. S. 2806; N.Y., SS.
502ff) However, in both states a suspension may be avoided or ended
upon satisfactory proof, including medical reports, that the disorder
is under effective control."

Although all people differ, I know that when I had sleep attacks
before (I now take Provigil daily), there was _nothing_ I could do to
stay awake.  The worst part is that many Narcoleptics, myself
included, have a period of time in which they believe they're awake
but actually aren't.  Then there's autonomic behavior which isn't a
good thing when driving, either.

At any rate, I didn't want this to be a rant, I just wanted to convey
the seriousness of nodding off when driving.  I thank God that I
didn't kill or seriously injure anyone in my accident but it was just
a matter of chance that I didn't.  I do drive now when I feel able to
(which is most of the time) and I also feel very thankful to have a
supportive family that will provide transportation for me when I get
the "sleepies".

Good luck, and if you wish to message with other "PWNs" (People With
Narcolepsy) there's a great forum at:

http:\\www.sleepnet.com\

Cheers-
Cephalopod-ga

Do you fall asleep anywhere else?
Check that you don't have an exaust leak into your car.