Wearable tech to save the lives of firefighters

A cost-effective invention aimed at preventing up to half of all firefighter deaths each year is being developed as part of a University of Queensland entrepreneurship program.

Faculty of Science student Tiarna McElligott is designing wearable exertion monitoring technology as the youngest participant in UQ’s ilab Accelerator program.

“The project started when I was told during a visit to a fire station that it wasn’t flames or falling buildings that killed firefighters, it was physical stress but there was no way to track it,” Ms McElligott said.

“Overexertion was responsible for 54% of firefighter deaths on the job in the US in 2020.

“I’m making something that is compatible with existing clothing and equipment and keeps track of the warning signs of overexertion.

"It will monitor heart rate, blood oxygen concentration and body temperature.

“It’s designed to alert the wearer to take action well before they’re aware that they're on a slope towards being in trouble.

"It will work when they’re so absorbed in their demanding job that they may not recognise the warning signs.”

Ms McElligott has patented a prototype of a vest as a proof of concept and, through the workshops and mentoring of the three-month ilab Accelerator program, is now working to refine the technology into a compact unit that can be attached to a firefighter’s turnout gear, such as on a helmet.

“There is some monitoring equipment on the market, but it replaces the whole turnout kit of a firefighter, so it’s not affordable to roll it out across all personnel and it needs to be replaced every few years as the fabrics or materials wear out or are damaged on the job,” she said.

“My system is a collection of electronic sensors, a processing unit and a radio transmitter in a small and portable unit.”

While continuing her studies in mathematics, chemistry and genetics at UQ, Ms McElligott is also developing the external system to receive clinical data from the wearable unit, working with the processes and technology already in use by fire services.

“Ideally, a support person outside of the immediate fire zone would be monitoring the data feed because we don’t want to add to what a firefighter is doing in an emergency,” Ms McElligott said.

“We are looking at how the device and the monitor, perhaps as part of an existing breathing apparatus system, would communicate with each other and ultimately protect lives.”

UQ’s Head of Entrepreneurship, Nimrod Klayman, said the ilab Accelerator program is an initiative to support and accelerate the development of early-stage startups and entrepreneurs.

“It provides access to resources, mentorship, workshops, and funding opportunities so participants can turn their ideas into successful businesses,” Mr Klayman said.

“12 groups are involved after a rigorous selection process and I am delighted to have Tiarna as one of them - her idea and her passion for making it happen are the exact combination we seek in the program.”