Wearable Sensors for Service Members and First Responders: Considerations for Using Commercially Available Sensors in Continuous Monitoring

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.