Firefighters operate in environments where a sudden fall, cardiac event, or becoming trapped can be life-threatening. Traditional radio check-ins require manual operation and are useless if a responder is incapacitated. The client needed an always-on solution that could detect distress automatically and alert the command center without any action from the wearer.

We developed a Wear OS application that runs continuously in the background, using the smartwatch's accelerometer and heart rate sensor to detect anomalies. A proprietary fall-detection model was trained on firefighter movement data to minimize false positives in high-activity environments. On detection, the app automatically shares the responder's GPS coordinates, initiates an SOS call, and streams live health vitals to the command center app.

In a pilot with a regional fire department, WatchGuard's automatic detection triggered alerts in two training scenarios where radio check-in would have been impossible. The department formally adopted the system for all active units. Response time to downed-firefighter scenarios improved by over 60%.

This project can be enhanced with environmental sensor integration to detect hazardous gases such as carbon monoxide, expanding its life-safety capabilities. Indoor tracking using ultra-wideband (UWB) beacons can also be added to locate responders in multi-story buildings where GPS signals are unreliable.