EaseAlert: Tactile Firefighter Alerting System

The purpose of this research is to test a commercially viable Fire Fighter Altering System (FFAS) comprised of proprietary wearables and optional bed shakers called BunkAlerts; collectively "personal alerting devices" as an alternative approach to the traditional fire alarm system used in fire stations. Participants (fire fighters) will be asked to take part in the study to investigate the impact of the new FFAS on cardiovascular response and sleep. This study includes three phases: 1) baseline, 2) implementation of EaseAlert FFAS with traditional alarm, and 3) implementation of EaseAlert FFAS without traditional alarm. Participants will be asked to wear an Actigraph wGT3x-BT and Polar H10 device to record sleep and heart rate data for 12 days at work in addition to EaseAlert FFAS device for 8 out of the 12 days at work. They will also be asked to complete a questionnaire and complete daily journal entries.

Inclusion Criteria:-Participants must meet the following inclusion criteria:Firefighters must be willing participants be over the age of 18 yearsHave worked at their department for a minimum of two months (career department only) so that circadian rhythm is adjusted to the scheduleNo extended absence or shift trading among the firefighters foreseen during the trial.Nighttime call/run volume averaging at least one emergency callInterest among the crew members to participate in the trialInclusion criteria for departments will include, but not be limited to:Willingness to participate by department's chief and/or his/her designeeNo past experience with the EaseAlert FFASFour or more firehouses/stationsWillingness to identify a departmental point of contact for collaboration with the research teamInterest among crews to test the new alert system.Exclusion Criteria:non firefighter