Physiological Monitoring Systems for Fatigue Detection Within Firefighters: A Brief Systematic Review

Abstract

Firefighters fatigue can negatively impact safety, production, and health. During firefighting, the risks are extreme, and firefighters health status is commonly neglected. A wearable sensor capable of predicting fatigue levels would have a substantial positive impact on the health and organisation of the teams. This review aims to collect information regards usage conditions and the development of wearable sensors at the occupational level. It also presents a proposed design for a wearable sensor that firefighters can use. This review is based on articles that reference the use of wearable sensors on an occupational level and the development of those systems. The studies show few wearable sensors used in high-intensity activities, although many can be used in other environments. The methodology suggested for the proposed design needs further investigation and adjustments. The final system must be capable of measuring heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature. It should also send the firefighter GPS localisation and alerts of falling detection. (c) 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.