A Novel System for Physiological Signal Monitoring and Health-Informed Electrotactile Feedback for First Responders

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Wearable Technology
• Emergency Response Systems

Background:

• First responder safety is critical during high-stress missions.
• Effective real-time health monitoring and intervention are needed for field teams.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel multimodal wearable system for first responder physiological monitoring.
• To integrate a wearable device with a remote command center for data analysis and feedback.

Main Methods:

• A multimodal wearable device was designed with physiological/biochemical signal acquisition and electrotactile feedback units.
• System components included sweat analysis for dehydration and wireless data transmission.
• Laboratory and field trials were conducted with first responders.

Main Results:

• The system accurately assessed dehydration via ionic conductivity and showed good agreement with commercial potentiostats.
• Heart rate and temperature readings were accurate, with minor artifacts.
• Field trials demonstrated over 80% success in continuous signal transmission and electrotactile feedback.

Conclusions:

• The developed system is robust and modular for operational environments.
• Real-time monitoring and feedback enhance first responder safety and mission effectiveness.
• This technology supports improved guidance and intervention for field personnel.