WAKE COUNTY, N.C. — People are used to hearing about law enforcement officers wearing bulletproof vests, but organizations are calling for responders to wear them now, too.

Both FEMA and the International Public Safety Association have now stated EMS agencies and firefighters should have, at the very least, access to ballistic protection equipment.

Durham, Forsyth, Rockingham and Guildford Counties are just a few of the areas that have bulletproof vests for some, if not all, of their first responders. In Mecklenburg County, EMS staff can buy pre-approved vests on their own.

Soon, Wake County first responders will have access to that safety tool after officials recently approved almost $1 million to buy bulletproof vests and helmets.

Chris Colangelo, the director of Wake County EMS, says paramedics are often the first to respond to a 911 call and they don’t always know what they’re walking into.

“This is something that weighs heavily on them. They know that they’re going into these situations and they never know which situation is going to be the one,” Colangelo said. “The event where we had a paramedic struck with a bullet was a celebration at a park, and the call was for an injured child.”

Between that 2021 incident as well as two others in 2022, including the Hedingham tragedy, Colangelo said it’s reaffirmed the need for additional safety measures.

“We’ve had three, what we would consider, sentinel events in about an 18 to 24-month period. That pretty much has shown that we need to provide additional protection to our first responders,” Colangelo said.

He was pleased that county officials approved $925,000 to be spent on bulletproof vests and helmets for Wake County EMS and firefighters. They’ll be worn on top of their uniform.

“We understand that can be intimidating, and can change the dynamic a little bit. It’s just another piece of protective equipment for us. It’s not meant to intimidate anybody,” Colangelo said.

Colangelo says EMS staff will be told which types of calls to wear the vests to, or whether they can be worn to every call.

“It’s not just a shooting or a bullet. They’re just another level of protection and, again, the bigger thing that I see is the peace of mind for the crews,” Colangelo said.

People could start seeing Wake County first responders wearing the vests by December or January.

The money was approved for Wake County’s EMS, as well as the fire departments in the county’s fire tax district. The fire tax district does not include Raleigh or Cary.

According to Wake County, the fire tax district will receive 242 vests/helmets or about four sets per staffed unit. Meanwhile, Wake County EMS will receive 450 vests and helmets or one set per staffed position.