It was about 15 minutes after midnight when the FDNY ambulance reached the South Bronx location, and EMTs Francisco Vasquez and Victor Mora hadn’t yet exited the rig. Before they had a chance, shots erupted, and people started running.
A round ripped through the rear of the ambulance and into the front, passing between its crew members but missing both before exiting through the windshield. However, an 18-year-old on scene was struck in the stomach, prompting additional response.
“At one point I thought my partner was shot, because the bullet went right through the window in front of him,” Vasquez told CBS afterward. “I was like, ‘Oh, my God, Victor, are you OK?’ And then bystanders come knocking on the window. We look, there’s a gentleman holding his stomach.”
Shootings and murders may have declined in New York City, but the Big Apple’s EMTs and paramedics remain under fire: Data from FDNY Local 2507, which represents its EMS providers and fire inspectors, shows incidents of workplace violence more than quadrupled from 2014 to 2024, from 99 to 423. The union has called for greater protection; the department has reminded crews to be aware and wear their PPE, including the ballistic gear they’ve been provided since the 1990s.
That PPE does not, however, include ballistic head protection. And sitting in their rig, it was Mora’s and Vasquez’s heads, not their torsos, that were most exposed.
The next progression of PPE
Some standard caveats apply to discussions of ballistic head protection for fire/EMS. One, it should be part of a comprehensive system of personal protective equipment employed to protect providers at moments of increased risk. And two, it’s not always possible to know when gunfire will occur — it often happens without warning, as in the May 2026 case above, on scenes that don’t appear especially dangerous.
EMS providers can be vulnerable targets.
“A lot of times when we’re treating casualties, we’re down on our knees, bent over the patient. And if somebody comes down the hall or into the room, one of the biggest targets presented is our heads,” said Sam Boyer-Groff, a tactical paramedic, critical care flight medic and founder of the PrepMedic EMS education channel who also serves as a brand ambassador for emergency-services headgear maker Team Wendy. “It’s one of those things where we kind of have to look at how we’re working. And I think helmets are kind of the next progression of normalizing PPE within EMS, fire and even police.”
Firefighters face a more diverse range of head threats than EMS providers and thus may be more attuned to wearing head protection, from simple bump helmets to structural firefighting, wildland and rescue helmets. But they also face ballistic risks: In 2025 two firefighters were shot and killed in an Idaho ambush, and in 2002 Roswell, New Mexico Chief Louis Jones was fatally shot in the head.
EMS risk may also be growing with the general trend toward increased care in warm zones and involvement in tactical teams, rescue task forces, civil unrest responses, warrant services and other higher-risk activities.
“For a long time, our mindset was we’re just going to stage in any violent situation,” said Boyer-Groff. “Now departments are realizing the value of having special medics for specific situations, and we’re having to adapt. We know getting to patients faster saves lives.”
In a situation like an active shooter, modern practice tends toward the first officers on scene entering and engaging, rather than containing and waiting. Similarly, in many systems nearly any EMT or medic may end up as a forward asset in a warm zone or on an RTF.
This has helped drive growing interest in protective headgear for fire and EMS. But familiar operational questions — the basic who, when, where, etc. — challenge any department that wishes to provide it.
Where should a department begin?
Steps to adding ballistic headgear
The process need not be lengthy, but each step is important:
Define the operational need — Ballistic helmets solve a specific problem: safe operation, usually alongside law enforcement, during active-shooter/gunfire events, civil unrest or on unsecured scenes of known violence. The relevant standard is NFPA 3000, which recommends a minimum of NIJ HG2 (Level IIIA) ballistic protection for both helmets and vests. This is different from routine structural firefighting or daily EMS PPE, and policy should be explicit about when ballistic helmets must be, may be and may not be used.
“You have to have your protocol for it,” said Boyer-Groff. “If you’re going into a known shooting, a known stabbing, something with a known warm zone, yeah, you should put your helmet on. You should wear your vest. Even if it feels a little silly to have it on when things seem secure, have it on.”
“Especially when you’re younger, you might not appreciate the protection something gives you, but you definitely know when you’re tired of wearing something.”
Personnel may also be allowed to don ballistic head protection based on their own discernment — with experience many providers develop a spidey-sense when danger is in the air.
“You don’t have to sit there in your ambulance and wear a helmet all day — that would be miserable,” Boyer-Groff added. “You may not be able to cover 100% of instances. But to have it on a rack behind your seat, with the ability to wear it any time you feel it’s needed, I think that’s kind of the middle road.”
Understand standards and levels — Ballistic helmets are rated under NIJ 0106.01. Many fire/EMS rescue task force programs choose Level IIIA, which stops most handgun rounds (up to .44 Magnum). True rifle-rated helmets (Level III/IV equivalents) exist but are generally reserved for tactical law enforcement roles.
Fit, weight and compatibility matter — A helmet that’s uncomfortable or interferes with equipment may not be worn when it’s needed. Consider weight and balance and compatibility with headsets/radios, eye protection and any NVG/light rail mounts. Plan proper sizing/fit sessions for every member to ensure comfort.
Policy and operational doctrine — Your SOP should specify what defines a qualifying incident or zone status that triggers helmet use. Make use mandatory in warm zones. Helmets and armor should be immediately available on apparatus, not locked in stations.
Training counts — This is an area where many departments underinvest. Train jointly with law enforcement, practice donning and doffing all PPE under pressure, and run through movement and casualty-care drills while wearing it.
On long callouts, comfort counts
Outfitting an entire fire-rescue department with the full complement of available head protection can carry a hefty price tag, especially when you factor in replacements, so departments may wish to be more strategic about matching helmets to roles. Helmet versatility can pay off here.
“A lot of times, you’re going to be looking for a helmet that does a lot of things well,” said Boyer-Groff. “When you look at all the different kinds of operations a fire department does, with budgets being what they are, departments need to prioritize different things and may be looking for a Swiss Army knife kind of solution.”
For ballistic protection in a package suitable for long-duration wear, Team Wendy’s best-known offering for roughly the last decade has been the EXFIL Ballistic helmet. This features a durable hybrid composite shell designed for maximum energy absorption and an Air FIT liner system with proprietary Zorbium foam technology crafted for light weight and protection against blunt impacts and traumatic brain injury. Its CAM FIT retention system accommodates individual head shapes, and integrated rails and a Wilcox NVG shroud support the full range of accessories. Its ballistic performance meets NIJ Level III-A standards. It tops out at around 2.75 pounds fully loaded.
That light weight and comfort were among the initial attributes that resonated with Boyer-Groff, who has worn an EXFIL for years and used Team Wendy helmets in various roles for his EMS agency in Colorado and as a ski patroller.
“Especially when you’re younger, you might not appreciate the protection something gives you, but you definitely know when you’re tired of wearing something,” he said. “So for me, early on, it was a question of, ‘Is this something I can actually wear for the duration of this callout?’ And you know, callouts aren’t that fast anymore — we do a lot of waiting.”
While being shot at is still thankfully rare for fire-rescue personnel, lesser kinds of impacts to the head remain common — and are also worth guarding against.
“In daily use, I like the bump protection — just from things like getting in the Bearcat and working in confined spaces and not having those little knots on my head,” Boyer-Groff added. “It’s a stable platform for mounting the tools I need, and it integrates well with our gas masks.”
For a dedicated bump helmet for more routine duties, Team Wendy’s RECON Tactical helmet is geared for the diverse missions of tactical law enforcement, search and rescue, military users and others. It also offers CAM FIT retention and a special Air FIT liner with Zorbium foam technology, as well as military-standard accessory interfaces and cooling pads for extended use.
‘It’s much more widely accepted’
EMS providers, at least, haven’t always been receptive to the notion of head protection. But with today’s greater emphasis on provider safety and the major crime surge seen post-COVID-19, younger personnel are often more open.
Sturdy and lightweight helmets, ballistic and otherwise, do their part by providing advanced protection with improved comfort.
“I think of them kind of like seat belts,” said Boyer-Groff. “Back in the day not everybody thought they were great, and it was kind of a pain to put them on. And in skiing, when I was a kid, nobody wore helmets. But my grandfather, being a neurologist, saw the benefit early on and was like, ‘You guys are going to wear helmets every time you ski and bike, no matter what.’ And I think now that idea is starting to translate to things like the tactical and PPE spaces, where before they weren’t cool to wear. It’s much more widely accepted.”
Protective apparel, it’s worth noting, is a well-established use case for FEMA’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, and many state homeland security programs also fund RTF equipment.
For more information, visit Team Wendy.
