The IAFF Redmond Symposium is held every biennially. The Symposium is characterized by a dual emphasis - providing an excellent educational forum for fire fighters as well as inducing medical personnel, occupational safety and health experts and others to get involved in the problems associated with fire fighting and emergency medical response.
During this 19th Redmond Symposium, fire service manufacturers and fitness companies exhibited their products. As part of the WPI project to develop an integrated Location and Physiological Monitor for the fire service, Globe Manufacturing demonstrated a prototype of the proposed technology, and, through a short survey, obtained responses from 50 members of the firefighting community directly involved in the health and safety. The attached report lists the questions asked and summarizes the survey responses.
There was an enthusiastic response to the technology concept, and the attendees readily participated in the survey. Overall, the view of the participants was that such new technology is critically important to the health and safety of firefighters. In addition, the form of the technology (T-Shirt based, consistent with current gear) and the software display received very positive feedback. Many expressed interest in learning more about the technology, and saw the technology as useful and relevant to their Fire Departments.
See Full Report (PDF)