First responder stress monitoring for debriefs and check-ins

"I'm fine" is the most common answer

Paramedics, firefighters, search and rescue crews and disaster-management staff carry a heavy load. Most keep going because the work matters. That is why self-report alone misses so much. Disaster responder mental health depends on noticing strain early.

What SeroState measures

During a consented debrief or check-in, the responder wears a watch. It records heart rate, heart-rate variability (HRV), skin response (EDA), temperature and motion. The conversation is recorded too, so SeroState can look at how something was said as well as what was said. Body and voice land on one timeline.

HRV and mental health are closely studied together, because HRV reflects how the nervous system responds to load and recovers from it. In a 2025 study of 43 police officers, smartwatch stress and sleep data added information that questionnaires alone did not capture (Kwon et al., Acta Psychologica). That study did not test SeroState. See the science →

The say/body gap

In a debrief, a responder says the deployment went fine. At that moment their heart rate climbs and stays high. SeroState marks the moment as a say/body gap.

SeroState does not interpret the gap. Support staff look at it and decide for themselves whether to follow up.

Built for care, not for scoring

This is occupational mental health. It is not performance tracking, and it must never be used to rate people.

Participation is voluntary. Before anything is recorded, we agree the setup with the organisation, its data protection officer and, where one exists, its works council. Individual data stays with health and support staff, never with line managers.

How it works

1. Wear. The responder puts on a watch for the debrief or check-in. SeroState works with wearables such as Corsano CardioWatch and is not tied to one device.
2. Talk. The debrief or check-in happens as usual.
3. Review. Afterwards, SeroState aligns body and voice and returns post-session analytics. Support staff decide what to do with them.

The output follows the FHIR R4 standard, so it can sit beside existing health records. See how the data is structured →

Where it fits

• Emergency medical services
• Fire and rescue services
• Search and rescue teams
• Disaster-management agencies and humanitarian responders
• Hospital staff after mass-casualty events

Earthquakes, floods and wildfires put long-term strain on responders worldwide. About us →

FAQ