Push to get ballistic vests and helmets for Seattle fire crews

SEATTLE — When firefighters respond to a call, there's no telling what they'll encounter.

According to Seattle firefighter and paramedic Miki Mann, this fact has led to changes in how fire crews approach their job.

“There was this subset of patients that we see that we’re not getting to, but if we had the right sort of protection, both personal protection and law enforcement protection, ... we could have access to them,” Mann explained.

That's what prompted Mann to design this ballistic vest and helmet. They're not only bulletproof but can also hold lifesaving medical equipment that crews can quickly add on depending on the situation.

According to the Seattle Fire Department, firefighters are going on more dangerous calls that have nothing to do with fire. Eighty percent of the department’s calls in 2019 were not fire related. They’re medical calls, which can includes calls to scenes of violence.

After the Lake City shooting in March 2019, the Seattle Fire Foundation formed to help buy some of this protective gear. Right now, the department has 70 ballistic sets. Founder and president of the foundation, Debbie Steinhauer, is on a mission to buy more.

“Our goal is to be able to have a set for very on duty firefighter(s),” Steinhauer said.

The urgency has been highlighted by these last couple of months of social unrest. Steinhauer hopes to raise $130,000 by Labor Day.

“They’re people that are risking their lives every day to help us, the citizens, the people living in the city. And the only reason they’re at risk is to help us,” Steinhauer added.

“That PPE of having the ballistic helmet and having the ballistic vest is really a lot more reassuring to all of us that we can still get our job done and still be safe,” Mann said.

If you want to donate >> https://seattlefirefoundation.org/

Cox Media Group