Intelligent/Smart materials for wearables used in fire emergency medical services

Abstract

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for safeguarding firefighters in extreme environments, yet conventional PPE remains limited to passive and single-function protection. Recent advances in intelligent/smart materials and wearable systems enable PPE to evolve toward active defense and multifunctional integration. This review highlights progress in intelligent/smart firefighting protective suits and respiratory devices, focusing on high-temperature early warning, thermal regulation, flame retardancy, self-power supply, and toxic gas filtration. Remaining challenges–including sensor interference, base-material properties, and multi-functional integration–are summarized. Importantly, the integration of artificial intelligence with intelligent/smart materials provides new opportunities for real-time monitoring, predictive alerts, and adaptive protection, offering a pathway for next-generation emergency medical services.