Wearable sensors for service members and first responders: Considerations for using commercially available sensors in continuous monitoring
Key Points
- Impact Statement: Wearable sensors are being used more frequently to conduct clinical research and to remotely monitor patients. Choosing an appropriate wearable sensor is critical for obtaining accurate health information. This article reviews the features of wearable sensors used across six domains and provides information that can be used to easily compare the physical characteristics of wearables.
- Wearable sensors can continuously monitor the health and readiness of service members and first responders, providing data on things like heat strain, altitude sickness, fatigue, illness, trauma, and more.
- Choosing the best wearable device depends on the specific use case - some situations require immediate feedback and high accuracy, while others prioritize long battery life and comfortable wear over extended periods.
- There are many commercially available wearables to choose from, but common requirements across use cases include measuring heart rate, respiration rate, temperature, and activity level while being robust, secure, and easy to use.
Abstract
Wearable sensors (“wearables”) provide a mechanism to monitor the health of service members and first responders continuously and remotely. Several wearables are commercially available, with different configurations, sensors, algorithms, and forms of communication. Choosing the “best” wearable depends on the information you need to make decisions, how often you need this information, and the level of accuracy required. In this article, we review six use cases for wearables that are relevant to the military and first responders. We examine the metrics measured and the wearables used. We conclude with recommendations for requirements and wearable selection given the constraints imposed by various use cases.
© 2026 RTI International. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
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