HemoHeroes

Haemophilia is a bleeding disorder where suffers can bleed for a longer period of time as their blood does not have enough clotting factor. Clotting factor is key as it is a protein in blood that controls bleeding. As such, haemorrhages commonly occur in joints, especially knees, ankles and elbows, and into tissues and muscles. Whilst haemophilia is quite rare, about 1 in 10,000[1] people worldwide are born with it according to the World Haemophilia Society.

Children with haemophilia often face additional stressors than their peers, such as distress and confusion about their medical condition, activity restrictions, strict dietary requirements and demanding treatment regimes that can be hard for them to understand and self-manage.

Within the game, children will explore the world and challenges of a haemophilia patient through a character or ‘hero’. In order to better understand how to protect themselves, they will need to support their hero throughout the game, as they journey between rooms of a cartoon house and encounter different everyday scenarios, masked as fun ‘challenges’. These include cooking, exercising, bathing, and bedtime.

The user is prompted to consider certain aspects of their lifestyle, such as healthy eating, oral hygiene, and physical activities during the challenges, as well as haemophilia-specific situations, including household hazards, appropriate exercise, and protective equipment.

The aim of the game is for the user to protect their hero throughout the various daily scenarios and complete each challenge by interacting appropriately with the environment, making healthy choices, and ensuring their hero takes his or her prophylactic medication regularly to avoid bleeding.