SALEM, Ore — A Salem man has developed a potentially life-saving product that he hopes goes worldwide.
It’s a specialized cap designed to keep water from pooling in tires that are stacked outside. Water in tires is a popular breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Alan Jones has worked around vehicles for a long time, as a mechanic and auto detailer. He said the work gave him time to think of various ideas, including what he now calls the “Tire Turtle” based on its shell-like appearance.
The World Health Organization says mosquitoes are the worst menace of disease-transmitting insects. Malaria alone kills up to 2.7 million people every year.
Jones wants to stop that.
“The idea is to keep the water out of the tires and keep them from laying eggs and the larvae growing, whatever, any tires stored outside with the cover on, mosquitoes won't be able to grow in them” said Jones.
Jones has built a prototype, and has a Kickstarter campaign going to try and raise funds to purchase a plastic injection molding machine to mass produce the Tire Turtle. There is a discounted option to buy into his campaign, when donating Tire Turtles to developing countries. But Jones won’t be able to go forward, unless his Kickstarter reaches its goal.