ER-Track: A wireless device for tracking and monitoring emergency responders

In this paper we present a wireless wearable body area system for locating, tracking and monitoring emergency responders in harsh and remote environments. Tracking an emergency responder and monitoring their vital signs using various medical sensors is important in supporting the safety of the emergency responder. This work is the preliminary step towards the development of a collaborative real-time tracking and monitoring system for emergency responders. In this paper, we propose a design of a wrist worn wireless wearable body sensor device for localizing, tracking and monitoring an emergency responder. Any change in the physiological parameters like blood oxygen level, blood pressure and pulse rate of the emergency responder can be easily sensed and tracked, and could be used to provide a warning when a critical event is detected. This system uses an efficient iterative localization scheme for locating the emergency responder. The system could be used to send early warning alerts, route proper medical supplies to the area required, and for communication between the responders.