The Emergency Responder’s Need for Ballistic Protective Equipment Has Changed.
Protect Yourself.
SAVE OTHERS.
Choose the right armor for YOU...
We are seeing an increasingly disturbing trend of violence directed toward Fire and EMS personnel that demands a new way of thinking about Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). It's time to consider that ballistic protection is essential PPE and North American Rescue has designed body armor with the medical provider and rescuer in mind.
The NAR Responder Ballistic PPE vest provides advanced ballistic protection for Fire and EMS personnel. The armor system was designed specifically to meet the functionality and performance needs of their job requirements. The shape and profile of the vest maximizes ballistic protection while allowing for the unique physical movements necessary by firefighters and EMS personnel. The Responder Ballistic PPE vest is suitable for calls involving acts of violence, active shooter response, rescue task force, or any potentially dangerous situation. It’s time for body armor designed with Fire and EMS personnel in mind.
Want to learn about Body Armor for medical responders?
View the 5 part series on Ballistic Protection below.
PART 1:
The Case for Ballistic Protection in Fire/EMS
PART 2:
Understanding Ballistic Threats
PART 3:
Armor Fundamentals
PART 4:
Understanding NIJ Certification for Ballistic Protection
PART 5:
Responder Ballistic PPE Vest System
Features & Overview
NAR Responder Ballistic PPE
CARE & MAINTENANCE
NAR Responder Ballistic PPE Vest
It’s time for body armor designed with Fire and EMS personnel in mind.
Body armor provides ballistic protection against the most common firearm threats. Armor is comprised of specialized ballistic materials designed to prevent bullet perforation by catching and slowing down a projectile. There are generally two categories of body armor: soft armor and hard armor. Soft armor is flexible and protects against handguns but is not rated to stop rifles. Hard armor or rifle plates are necessary to protect against rifle threats. No body armor is “bullet proof” so armor is tested against the most common ballistic threats first responders might face. The National Institute of Justice maintains the current body armor standards and testing protocols. It’s imperative that your body armor has been tested and certified by an approved NIJ laboratory to ensure your safety.
Firefighters and EMS personnel operate differently than law enforcement. This requires a different approach to body armor design. Most Fire and EMS agencies adopt a one size fits most approach since personnel will share ballistic PPE. The movement requirements for first responders providing medical care are different than law enforcement. This requires a deep understanding of how Fire and EMS personnel operate and designing body armor that allows the rescuer to perform their duties while keeping them safe. A soft armor ballistic vest should be the foundation of protection for first responders. FBI data clearly shows most people are shot with handguns and not rifles, but rifles are often used in active shooter incidents. Soft armor provides more ballistic coverage than hard armor and is better suited for routine wear. Hard armor plates can be rapidly inserted for Rescue Task Force (RTF) or active shooter incidents and can provided protection against rifle threats.
Body armor is manufactured from a variety of materials which are designed to prevent penetration and reduce the blunt force trauma to the wearer. Armor is always a compromise between weight, protection and functionality. If the armor is too heavy, bulky or uncomfortable then it is the wrong solution or design. Body armor should keep you protected while allowing you to perform your job functions.
Soft Armor offers critical protection against handgun threats along with the capability for extended daily wear. NAR provides an optimal over-the-uniform soft armor vest that features flexible layers of ballistic resistant materials constructed from synthetic Aramid fibers with a very high strength to weight ratio. These super strong fibers are woven into multiple layers that are stacked to create an armor panel. When a handgun bullet strikes the armor panel, it gets caught in a web of high-performance fibers that stretch and disperse the impact energy causing the bullet to deform or “mushroom”. This dispersion of energy not only prevents bullet perforation, but also helps minimize possible injury to underlying tissue.
Hard armor is designed to provide a higher degree of protection from rifle threats. Constructed from a variety of hard ballistic-resistant materials such as ceramic, compressed UHMWPE (ultra-high-molecular-weight-polyethylene), metallic plates, or a composite of multiple materials, each of these rigid materials offer their own unique properties. The hard armor plates offered by NAR are stand-alone (no soft armor required) and multi-hit rated for armor piercing threats such as 5.56 mm “Green Tip” (M855).
The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) is responsible for establishing performance standards and testing certification for body armor. The NIJ conducts two types of ballistic testing: Perforation/BackFace Signature (P-BFS) and Ballistic Limit (V50). No complete or partial perforation of the armor panel is allowed during testing. In addition, no more than 44mm (1.73 inches) of indentation is allowed into the ballistic clay backing utilized during shoot testing. The back face signature translates to the upper tolerable limits of blunt force injury to the user. The ballistic limit (V50) is the velocity at which the projectile is expected to perforate the armor 50% of the time. It is important to ensure that any armor package has been certified by an NIJ approved laboratory.
NAR responder
Ballistic Vest SystemWITH Medical Kit
The NAR Responder Ballistic PPE Vest System is an advanced ballistic solution for Fire/EMS, and is suitable for active shooter/RTF and daily wear by first responders. This system was designed specifically for first responders and includes a Chest Pouch Medical Kit with essential trauma equipment to provide immediate point-of-wounding care to injured casualties. The shape and cut of the vest provides increased ballistic protection while still allowing providers to perform advanced medical care. An optional armored abdomen extender is available for additional ballistic coverage. A smaller armored cummerbund is also available to provide a custom fit for smaller providers.
The soft armor is NIJ level IIIA certified and compliant with the NFPA 3000 ASHER body armor guidelines. While no armor is 100% bulletproof, our soft armor surpasses NIJ level IIIA guidelines and has also been special threat tested for advanced ballistic threats including fragmentation. External plate pockets allow for rifle rated armor plates for additional protection. The one size fits most design is lightweight, comfortable, and easily adjusted for a custom fit.
- Certified NIJ 0101.06 Level IIIA Soft Armor Ballistic Protection equipped with medical supplies that address the leading causes of preventable death in the the tactical environment
- Fitted external plate pockets designed to accommodate additional hard armor plates(each sold separately)
- Includes armored cummerbund for increased side protection with easy hook and loop attachment for rapid user adjustment expandable waist size up to 62 in.
- 3” x 10” Hook & Loop areas on the front & back to accommodate ID Patches (sold separately) Contact customer service for details.
- NAR Responder Ballistic Vest System includes:
- 1 x NAR Responder Ballistic Vest with Armored Cummerbund
- 1 x Chest Pouch Medical Kit with Luminous Med ID Patch
- 2 x Nylon Tourniquet Holder
NAR responder
Ballistic PPE VestWITH MOLLE & Armored Cummerbund
Advanced ballistic solution for Fire/EMS suitable for active shooter/RTF and daily wear by first responders. This system was designed specifically for first responders and their job requirements. The shape and cut of the vest provides increased ballistic protection while still allowing providers to perform advanced medical care. Optional armored abdomen extender for additional ballistic coverage. Smaller armored cummerbund available to provide custom fit for smaller providers.
The soft armor is NIJ level IIIA certified and compliant with the NFPA 3000 ASHER body armor guidelines. While no armor is 100% bulletproof, our soft armor surpasses NIJ level IIIA guidelines and has also been special threat tested for advanced ballistic threats including fragmentation. External plate pockets allow for rifle rated armor plates for additional protection. The one size fits most design is lightweight, comfortable, and easily adjusted for a custom fit.
- Certified NIJ 0101.06 Level IIIA Soft Armor Ballistic Protection equipped with medical supplies that address the leading causes of preventable death in the the tactical environment
- Designed specifically for Fire and EMS personnel providing Level IIIA soft armor protection & MOLLE-style PALS attachment capability
- Lightweight and comfortable for a better fit that allows full range of motion
- Fitted external plate pocket to increase comfort
- Includes Armored Cummerbund with hook and loop adjustment via front/rear kangaroo panel to reduce armor overlap. Small cummerbund option sold separately
- Optional armored lower abdomen extension provides additional coverage with MOLLE-style PALS webbing for essential gear
- Rapidly adjustable shoulder straps
- 3” x 10” Hook & Loop areas on the front & back to accommodate ID Patches (sold separately)
Contact customer service for details.
NAR Responder
Ballistic Vest SlickWITH Armored Cummerbund
The NAR Responder Slick Ballistic PPE Vest offers the same ballistic protection and high quality vest but without the external MOLLE - style PALS webbing. This clean look vest lessens the appearance of a tactical vest but still provides an advanced ballistic solution for Fire/EMS, and is suitable for Active Shooter or Rescue Task Force needs and daily wear. An optional armored abdomen extender is available for additional ballistic coverage. A smaller armored cummerbund is also available to provide a custom fit for smaller providers.
- Cost effective option of our NIJ 0101.06 Level IIIA ballistic vest designed for maximum coverage without bulk
- Lightweight, comfortable, better fit allows full range of motion while also providing superb coverage
- Fitted external plate pocket to increase comfort
- Includes Armored Cummerbund with hook and loop adjustment via front/rear kangaroo panel to reduce armor overlap
- Rapidly adjustable shoulder straps
- 3” x 10” Hook & Loop areas on the front & back to accommodate ID Patches (sold separately)
- Small cummerbund option is sold separately
- Optional armored lower abdomen extension (sold separately) provides additional coverage with MOLLE-style PALS webbing for essential gear
NAR responder
SS Advanced Combat Helmet Full Cut401 & 601
The SS Advanced Ultra-Lightweight Ballistic Helmet provides superior ballistic protection including fragmentation protection according to MIL-STD-662F. These helmets feature lightweight hybrid shell construction with Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene U.H.M.W.P.E. in the ACH shape. It has been tested and verified to meet or exceed ballistic resistance as specified under NIJ Standard 0106.01 by an NIJ accredited laboratory…
- Protection Level IIIA according to NIJ 0106.01 including Frag protection according to MIL-STD-662F
- Tested and verified to meet or exceed ballistic resistance as specified under NIJ Standard 0106.01 by an NIJ accredited laboratory
- Construction: U.H.M.W.P.E. Hybrid lightweight shell
- Head Protection: Front, back, crown, and top of head
- Harness: comes standard with dial ratchet harness
- Rapidly adjustable shoulder straps
- Padding: comes standard with D30 7 pad helmet system
BATLSKIN VIPER A5 HELMET WITH MSS
The Batlskin Viper A5 Helmet is the cost effective ballistic and head impact protection solution. Built in the ACH shape, the A5 stops NIJ IIIA level threats and is compatible with NVG’s, Chem/Bio masks and communication devices. The Viper A5 Modular Suspension System (MSS) is comprised of an impact liner, dial fit band, suspension and retention system.
The impact liner is made of low profile impact material and exceeds U.S. Army ACH impact standard. An adjustable crown net allows for sweat wicking and comfort. It suspends the helmet shell on the wearer’s head, meaning the impact liner does not come into contact with the head, providing a free flow of air for cooling benefits. A dial fit band with comfort pads adjusts the fit around the circumference of the head using a dial ratchet mechanism that can be quickly tightened or loosened using one hand.
- Stops NIJ IIIA level threats (9mm and 44 mag) (NIJ 0101.06)
- Low profile design/Designed for comfort
- Compatible with NVGs, Chem/Bio Masks and communication devices
- 4-point integrated harness with unique buckle system (no loose straps)
- Dial Ratchet Mechanism adjusts the fit band (simple one-handed operation)
- Adjustable crown net for sweat wicking , comfort and low pressure wear
- Low profile impact material does not contact the head in normal operation
- Provides a free flow of air to aid in cooling
- Exceeds U.S. Army ACH impact standards and tested with multiple hits and across all temperature ranges