Advisor Information
Ann Fruhling
Location
MBSC 201
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
6-3-2020 9:00 AM
End Date
6-3-2020 10:15 AM
Abstract
Every day, first responders put their own lives at risk to help individuals, families, and communities. They experience many safety and health hazards on the front-line that can lead to injuries, chronic illnesses, and even death. Chronic illnesses include cancer, heart diseases, and behavioral health issues that often cause first responders life expectancy to be significantly shortened.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, there were 64 on-duty firefighter deaths in 2018. Sudden cardiac death accounted for about 40% of the on-duty fatalities. During 2017, there were an estimated 44,530 documented exposures to hazardous conditions (e.g. chemicals, fumes, radioactive materials) and 15,430 collisions involving fire department emergency vehicles responding to or returning from incidents.
To help minimize the health impact of first responders, overarching goal of this research project is to build a health and environment monitoring system that can be used during a hazardous material exposure. The system aims to improve first responders’ safety by integrating bio and environmental sensor data and employing decision support technology to send alerts when a first responders’ health is at risk. Sensors are useful to monitor the activities and track the individual’s health vitals such as heart rate, heat index, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation levels, and blood pressure. Through the monitoring of health vitals, an incident commander or medic can take immediate action to remove a first responder from the front-line to minimize long-term health issues when their vitals reach certain thresholds.
Lessons Learned from Designing a Health Monitoring System to Improve First Responders Safety User Interface
MBSC 201
Every day, first responders put their own lives at risk to help individuals, families, and communities. They experience many safety and health hazards on the front-line that can lead to injuries, chronic illnesses, and even death. Chronic illnesses include cancer, heart diseases, and behavioral health issues that often cause first responders life expectancy to be significantly shortened.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, there were 64 on-duty firefighter deaths in 2018. Sudden cardiac death accounted for about 40% of the on-duty fatalities. During 2017, there were an estimated 44,530 documented exposures to hazardous conditions (e.g. chemicals, fumes, radioactive materials) and 15,430 collisions involving fire department emergency vehicles responding to or returning from incidents.
To help minimize the health impact of first responders, overarching goal of this research project is to build a health and environment monitoring system that can be used during a hazardous material exposure. The system aims to improve first responders’ safety by integrating bio and environmental sensor data and employing decision support technology to send alerts when a first responders’ health is at risk. Sensors are useful to monitor the activities and track the individual’s health vitals such as heart rate, heat index, respiratory rate, blood oxygen saturation levels, and blood pressure. Through the monitoring of health vitals, an incident commander or medic can take immediate action to remove a first responder from the front-line to minimize long-term health issues when their vitals reach certain thresholds.