Airotone launches respiratory training program with North Collier Fire

Airotone has started a 16-week respiratory muscle training program with North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District in Naples, Florida, to study whether firefighters can improve breathing performance, SCBA endurance and operational readiness. The effort expands respiratory fitness beyond traditional strength and cardio training and could shape future fire department programs beginning in 2027.

Why it matters: - Firefighters rely on breathing efficiency as much as strength, endurance and tactics. - The program is designed to test whether structured respiratory muscle training can improve readiness, survivability and air use in high-stress fireground conditions. - The work could inform future fire-service programs if the results show measurable operational benefits.

What happened: - Airotone launched a collaborative respiratory muscle training program with North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District. - The program pairs Airotone’s Respiratory Performance Management program with NCFR’s existing health and fitness efforts. - NCFR began onboarding about 76 firefighters in August for a 16-week training program. - An 18-member cohort is taking part in a focused evaluation of respiratory muscle training tied to SCBA cylinder duration and other respiratory and performance measures.

The details: - The program uses the Airotone Trainer, a device that trains the muscles used in breathing through controlled resistance during inhalation and exhalation. - The Trainer works with a connected app that guides exercises and tracks progress. - Airotone’s patented acoustic technology analyzes breath sounds and provides real-time feedback during training. - Firefighters in the broader NCFR group are using the Trainer, connected app, guided exercises and progress tracking. - NCFR’s medical director, Dr. James J. Augustine, said the department first explored the idea through firefighters who already face respiratory challenges, then expanded the discussion to broader respiratory fitness. - Fire Chief Eloy Ricardo said the department wants to evaluate whether better breathing preparation can help firefighters manage air more effectively under demanding conditions. - Airotone worked with global healthcare manufacturing partner MGS to move The Trainer from concept to a market-ready wellness product in eight months. - Airotone says the early collaboration brought design, engineering, manufacturing, quality and regulatory expertise together from the start. - Airotone was founded in 2023 and is based in Naples, Florida. - North Collier Fire responds to more than 27,000 calls a year across a 264-square-mile area of Collier County, Florida. - North Collier Fire’s response includes advanced life support medical calls, marine, dive and ocean rescue, hazardous materials, technical rescue and lifeguards. - The District is governed by a five-member board of fire commissioners. - More information is available in the company's announcement and North Collier Fire's website.

Between the lines: - The launch shows respiratory muscle training moving from general wellness into a frontline public-safety setting. - The NCFR pilot gives Airotone a real-world test bed for measuring whether respiratory training can complement standard firefighter conditioning. - The inclusion of SCBA endurance suggests the program is aimed at operational performance, not just fitness metrics. - The eight-month development timeline points to a push to scale the product quickly and position it for future medical-device work.

What's next: - Airotone and NCFR will evaluate training results and operational feedback from the pilot. - The findings are expected to shape future programs. - Airotone plans to expand work with fire departments nationally starting in 2027.

The bottom line: - Airotone is betting that breathing muscles deserve the same training focus as strength and cardio — and North Collier Fire is the first fire department helping test that idea in the field.