TECHNOLOGY
AARMS
Vol. 11, No. 1 (2012) 149–154
The application of telemetry in health protection of
firefighters, soldiers and policemen
FERENC KANYÓ, GÁBOR PALOTAI
National University of Public Service, Budapest, Hungary
Research and development is being carried out at the Fire Department of Budapest to
introduce a new telemetric system that is capable of measuring and monitoring the vital
functions of firefighters while engaged in physical activity as well as assessing their
physiological and psychological state in order to establish a firm base to improve staff
training for emergency services by monitoring their personnel both prior to and
throughout the course deployment.
Introduction
Regular physical testing of soldiers, firefighters policemen and emergency services are
intended to indicate the level of skills and abilities of applicants. To enhance the
efficiency of the selection process based on such aptitude tests it is essential to specify
certain requirements.
Applying highly effective methods for an objective assessment of the performance
of firefighters and soldiers at work is an absolute necessity. Such tests may help us
obtain valuable information, provided that we are able to monitor the physiological
processes inside the bodies of firefighters and soldiers continuously and reliably while
they are performing routine tasks or working in difficult or even extreme conditions.1
In addition to making improvements to the selection and training procedures we also
need to be able assess the state of mind of each individual during the time of
deployment under critical conditions. Proper elimination of risk that may exist in such
situations requires constant monitoring of the state of health followed by redirecting all
incoming data to a control base where it is analyzed and all necessary decisions are
made accordingly.
Monitoring the psycho-physiological condition of a firefighters reflects how wellprepared they are to complete their tasks and based on that information the Safety
Officer – who is positioned at the control base and responsible for the safety of people
and the entire operation – is able to determine the outcome of a possible deployment at
the scene of an actual incident.1
Received: June 18, 2012
Address for correspondence:
FERENC KANYÓ
E-mail: [email protected]
F. KANYÓ, G. PALOTAI: Telemetry in health protection
Of course, the sensors used to pinpoint the condition of firefighters and soldiers
must be attached to their bodies properly in order to secure free movement. Another
important precondition is that various terrains, weather conditions, temperatures, lights
and humidity may not distort the measured data. In order to be processed, information
must be transferred to the most competent units.
Besides evaluation of health and fitness, it is also important to assess the psychophysiological condition of military units and groups of firefighters in a rather integrated
way as it plays a crucial role in the decision-making process. Based on the collected
data, orders and all relevant information must be forwarded to the executive units.
Constant monitoring of the physical and mental state of soldiers, as well as that of
their surrounding circumstances (average temperature, geological location, exposure to
hazardous chemicals, etc.) is just one of the many current requirements by NATO that
have been highly emphasized. Having all this information at its disposal, the
supervising staff is able to determine whether an individual needs to get some rest, take
liquid or whether it is time for them to be replaced.
The above-mentioned monitoring system consists of the following:
– a measuring unit with intelligent sensors to identify and record important vital
processes and values;
– an independent intelligent controller and a preprocessing unit to collect and
integrate data, pre-process information and establish communication;
– a central intelligent data processing module to simultaneously process data from
different sources
– a central intelligent control unit that monitors activity by all central intelligent
data processing modules, integrates information provided by them and
establishes important facts based on military and medical principles in order to
support the completion of emerging tasks.
The aim of the project
The aim of the project is to set up a state-monitoring system which makes it possible
for incident commanders to keep track of both physiological and mental condition of
soldiers in the battlefield and of firefighters tackling blazes or performing rescue
operations as their assigned tasks.
To monitor the psycho-physiological condition of a person we need some very tiny
light-weight sensors that are capable of
– functioning properly during physical activity
– being easily handled without hindering performance
– recording and storing measured data (data collection)
– being connected to all commanding control systems.
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Data provided by the sensors are analyzed via biological endurance models. A data
analyzing application provides aggregated parameters that reflect the psychical and mental
state of each individual soldier as well as that of the entire unit displaying changes in
relation to the intensity of workload and time. To create a well designed monitoring
system with biological models we need to find answers to the following questions:
– What and how often do we have to measure in order to get a clear picture of the
psychical and mental state of firefighters and soldiers in action?
– What are the most suitable technologies for taking measurements?
– How are the measurements affected by the various actions of firefighters and
soldiers, different terrains, weather conditions, building structures, basements,
underground parking garages, and how could these negative effects be eliminated?
– How do we integrate data from the different sensors?
– Using the collected data, how do we determine the physical and mental
condition of firefighters and soldiers?
– Based on the condition of a single individual, how can we judge the physical and
mental condition of the entire group of firefighters or soldiers they belong to?
As a result of further technical development, the system to be designed may become
part of a large integrated electronic control system that may help us maximize the
operative effectiveness of firefighters and soldiers and may also contribute to the
solution of problems resulting from wounds or injuries.
Goals to be achieved:
– definition of terminology related to physical condition,
– definition of vital parameters for activity-oriented testing,
– definition of psychological parameters for activity-oriented testing,
– creation of psychological examination models for testing during performance
– conceptual planning of the monitoring system.
The conceptual plan of the monitoring system includes all elements and functions
that are to insure proper measuring procedures to be completed focusing on selected
parameters. The examination model describes what information we can gain from
certain measured parameters in relation to the vital and psychological condition of
firefighters and soldiers.
Selection of parameters may vary in relation to the nature of deployment as well as
to individual features and functions to be measured. Besides that, levels and types of
such parameters (individual information, team information, environmental information
and/or interactive information) must be determined. For example monitoring a
particular person may provide us with information about their fundamental vital signs
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(body temperature, pulse, blood oxygen level, heart-rate, blood pressure, changes in
heart beat, electrocardiogram) or about less traditional parameters.
Monitoring a firefighter may be focused on occurring trends during a certain period
of time (e.g. in the course of firefighting, rescue operations, drills or physical tests). By
classifying collected data on each firefighter on a team we may gather information to
characterize the entire team. This could be particularly valuable during operations when
firefighters risk their own lives to save others.3
Methods
Research and development is being carried out at the Fire Department of Budapest to
introduce a new telemetric system that is capable of measuring and monitoring the vital
functions of firefighters while engaged in physical activity as well as assessing their
physiological and psychological state in order to establish a firm base to improve staff
training for emergency services by monitoring their personnel both prior to and
throughout the course deployment.1
The telemetric system uniquely enables us to automatically monitor the vital signs
of firefighters (electrical heart impulse, body temperature, movement, etc.) by means of
comfortable breast belts equipped with wireless communications sets. Signals from the
breast belts are transmitted to a computer that makes it possible for us to analyze data
by means of the latest Artificial Intelligence techniques. The system may be used to
monitor vital functions and physical fitness online and also to analyze related data
before, during and after deployment in order to assess the current up-to-the-minute
condition of each subject.
The system is also capable of recognizing various processes of metabolism as well
as highlighting aerobe and anaerobe phases. These ways of gaining energy play a vital
role in the assessment process of endurance. The telemetry system also makes it
possible to keep firefighters in optimal physical condition that is of vital importance to
reach a higher level of performance.
Operation:
Current vital signs and physical state of firefighters are characterized by the
following details transmitted by the nonstop-worn breast belts: electrical heart impulse,
skin temperature, environmental temperature, acceleration, GPS coordinates and
magnetic forces of the Earth. These details are transmitted to a computer through a
wireless network in order to be processed by conducting detailed analysis of data and
providing strategic advice and professional suggestions on the recommended intensity
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level of activity. The measuring device is a belt that is easy-to-wear, cozy and washable.
It is also rechargeable, waterproof and automatically detects being attached to someone.
The physiological role of analyzing EKG signals:
One of the main problems with conventional pulse-taking devices is that they only
provide information about pulse rate, but they cannot display a graph showing the
electrical activity of the heart. Based on the pulse rate only, the physiological state and
fitness of a person cannot be determined for certain. Potentials of the telemetric system –
high sample-collecting frequency, analysis of electrical signals from the heart, processing
existing large databases – they form the basis of an advanced way to examine heart
frequency fluctuation and make it possible to safely analyze dysrhythmia taking place
repeatedly in a short amount of time in order to discover its internal mechanism.
Since the device is easy to wear, all this is possible even when firefighters are
engaged in physical activity. Therefore we are able to obtain information that
conventional EKG machines with 12 outlets could not provide as their electrodes would
be impossible to wear during physical involvement.
The physiological role of thermometers:
A malfunction of thermoregulation poses a serious danger to firefighters. Protective
clothing impedes heat reflection of the body anyway and working in intense heat even
worsens the situation during the time of intensive work.
On the one hand, thermometers show us the absolute temperature, and on the other
hand they provide information on heat reflection during the course of physical activity
and also on the possible accumulation of heat. By means of thermometers blood flow to
the skin – which refers to the dynamic of blood circulation – may also be monitored. A
great deal of energy is used to balance the thermoregulation of the body. Therefore,
monitoring body temperature is an important task. During physical activity – provided
the body functions normally – it shows a distinctive heat curve on the graph.
The physiological role of acceleration, turning, GPS and magnetic forces:
To measure performance during physical activity, we use signals from the
acceleration meters and GPS coordinates. By comparing information on physiology and
physical performance it has become possible for us to evaluate fitness and vital signs in
a much more precise way than ever before.
Laboratory tests intended to examine subjects while performing strenuous activity to
an absolute exhaustion are only able to imitate genuine everyday efforts. Analysis of
vital signs in real-life situations may help us avoid physical overload during deployment
of firefighters which might even lead to fatality.
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Practical application
Currently, there are 10 breast belts at the Fire Department of Budapest to be tested.
During our experiments we have worked out the details of a new method of using the
transmitter in combination with the telemetry system.
H We attach the transmitter to the body of the firefighter
H The transmitter automatically activates and connects to the application installed
on the portable computer operated by the Safety Officer who is monitoring the
entire process.
H The Safety Officer2 pairs the breast belt with the individual firefighter to be
monitored.
H The vital signs of the firefighter become readable at the control basis. In case
threshold limits are closing in on each other, the firefighter in trouble may be
called back from action.
H Following deployment, relevant data on performance may be saved, analyzed
and used to on it more effective performance may be designed and further
enhanced in the future.
References
1. KANYÓ FERENC: Telemetriai rendszer alkalmazási lehet(sége a t*zoltók egészségvédelmének érdekében.
Védelem online letöltés: 2011. február http://www.vedelem.hu/letoltes/tanulmany/tan328.pdf
2. CZIVA OSZKÁR: A Biztonsági Tiszt, mint a beavatkozók védelmez(je. Védelem online letöltés: 2011
február. http://www.vedelem.hu/letoltes/tanulmany/tan235.pdf
3. CZIVA OSZKÁR, KANYÓ FERENC: Different international methods for testing the ability of firefighters.
Hadmérnök, 2008. június.
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