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Meet the Scientist Who’s Changing the Way We Hydrate on Site
Dr. Shawn Stasko isn’t your typical hydration advocate.
His journey didn’t start in a boardroom — it started in a lab, at the bedside of chemotherapy patients, and in the thick of elite sports performance, asking one key question:
Why are we still relying on outdated hydration formulas for the people who need them most?
From Chemo Patients to the Front Line
It was during a residency that Dr. Stasko noticed something unusual. Patients undergoing chemotherapy — already battling fatigue, dehydration, and nausea — were being pushed to hydrate, yet the options available were loaded with sugar, colours, and artificial additives.
Dr Stasko saw patients with compromised immune systems and delicate nutritional needs being handed mass-market drinks that weren’t helping. Some were actually getting sicker and not giving them the hydration their bodies desperately needed.
That insight stuck. And it wasn’t long before the same problems started showing up elsewhere; on playing fields, in research trials, and eventually, on industrial worksites.
Backed by Research, Built for the Real World
With a Ph.D. in muscle biology from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Dr. Stasko’s research focused on what makes skeletal muscles fatigue during high exertion and disease.
His deep dive into the cellular mechanics of hydration and fatigue soon led to one clear realisation:
“The problem isn’t just thirst. It’s absorption, osmolality, mineral balance and the fact that most drinks miss the mark entirely.”
Together with his medical school advisor and research partner, he co-founded what would become Sword Performance, a company focused on clean, clinical-grade hydration solutions.
After five years refining hydration strategies for elite athletes, Dr. Stasko turned his attention to a new frontier: Australia’s hardest working industries.
“Hydration Should Be Treated Like PPE”
Across mining, construction, energy and transport, the same issues keep surfacing:
- Crews starting shifts already dehydrated
- Reliance on sugary, or off-the-shelf hydration options
- Increased fatigue, slow reaction times, heat stress and mistakes on the job
Sword Performance’s flagship products, SWORD, SHIELD and now SHIELD Zero, were developed in the lab but have been shown to be just as beneficial on worksites — with a formula designed to match the physiological demands of long shifts, high heat, and safety-critical environments.
- SWORD is an IV-quality, high-performance hydration product that delivers fast fluid absorption and clean fuel, without the sugar crash.
- SHIELD offers a daily hydration solution with a balanced electrolyte profile and low osmolality for steady hydration, even under pressure.
- SHIELD Zero, for sugar-free needs, was designed specifically to support diabetic workers and general use without compromising on effectiveness.
These aren’t sports drinks. They’re worksite tools — and they work because they are rooted in science and addressing what the body actually needs to hydrate effectively.
Live at AIMEX 2025: The Panel Worth Attending!
Dr. Shawn Stasko will be attending AIMEX 2025, as part of the panel:
Safety Reimagined on the 23rd September at 1:40pm.
Attendees will also be able to sample the SWORD Performance range at the Accumax Global stand P20, with exclusive 1:1 sessions available for those wanting to speak with Dr. Stasko in person.
In these private sessions, he’ll break down:
- Why most hydration drinks are making dehydration worse
- How osmolality affects fluid absorption
- What safety managers and shift supervisors need to know
- The role of hydration specific to your worksite requirements and how Sword products can form part of your safety toolkit
To learn more, visit Accumax Global at Stand P20 or book a 1:1 with Dr. Shawn via https://calendly.com/accumax-global/dr-shawn-stasko-aimex
