Team Wendy has introduced its EXFIL Rescuer and EXFIL Maritime Rescuer bump helmets for search and rescue operations on land and in water, drawing directly on feedback from front-line teams.
According to the company, the new platform is built on the same shell used in its EXFIL LTP lightweight tactical polymer bump helmets, then adapted in response to input from search and rescue crews working onshore and offshore.
The EXFIL Rescuer is aimed at land-based missions across terrain ranging from wilderness to urban environments, while the EXFIL Maritime Rescuer carries the same core hardware into maritime, hurricane and swift-water scenarios.
Both models use liner systems based on Zorbium foam to combine blunt impact protection with wearer comfort.
The helmets are offered in high-visibility red or yellow to support crew visibility in demanding conditions.
Garson Greathouse, Regional Sales Manager (Southeast) at Team Wendy, said: “We wanted to give agencies and public-safety teams a unified system that works across multiple rescue environments.
“Starting with the same shell used in our popular EXFIL LTP (Lightweight, Tactical, Polymer) bump helmets, we expanded that foundation by closing the loop with SAR crews, until the platform reflected the realities of the way they actually work onshore and offshore.”
Team Wendy reports that the EXFIL Rescuer weighs 1.59 lbs, with minor variation by helmet size and pad configuration.
The company stated that this low weight is intended to help first responders move quickly and maintain focus during extended operations.
According to the firm, the helmet is designed for use in wilderness rescue, structural collapse and urban interface environments, among other hazardous scenarios.
An aluminium shroud is fitted to support the use of helmet-mounted lights, night vision equipment and thermal imaging devices.
The polycarbonate shell is described as lightweight and impact-modified, retaining the familiar EXFIL external geometry.
A Velcro pattern on the shell is laid out to accommodate top-mounted lights or infrared strobes, as well as attachments and patches.
The helmet uses the handmade CAM FIT retention system, incorporating Team Wendy’s BOA fit dial to distribute light pressure evenly around the head.
Rails on the sides of the helmet are compatible with EXFIL accessories, including face shields, visors and adapters for products such as Peltor headsets.
A sport-style chin strap is used to provide a low-profile, secure fit for land-based missions.
Team Wendy explains that the EXFIL Maritime Rescuer retains the same core hardware and base weight as the land-focused model but adds a liner engineered for neutral buoyancy and quick drying in water.
The company notes that the under-the-chin retention system is intended to stay clear of snorkels, communications equipment and hoods during entries into the water.
Greathouse said: “SAR swimmers told us that an over-the-chin or cup-style strap can scoop water and yank the helmet, so you’re constantly retightening it instead of focusing on the rescue.
“Or, if the liner floats, you get ‘bucketing,’ where the helmet lifts or pulls your head back, and that can break your seal.
“The EXFIL Maritime Rescuer is our answer to those concerns.
“It uses an under-the-chin strap that stays clear of the airway and a moisture-shedding, neutrally buoyant liner that won’t fight you in the water.
“It’s about achieving a mission-ready fit rather than pushing a tactical helmet into rescue work it wasn’t intended for.”
Team Wendy states that search and rescue operations are not well served by repurposed equipment, because helmets focused on fire or other hazards may lack the adaptability that these missions require.
The company’s applied science programme is reported to concentrate on blunt and rotational impacts such as debris strikes, wall collisions and head-to-ground falls, which are identified as key drivers of concussion and traumatic brain injury.
To assess performance beyond traditional linear drop tests, the development team created DREW (Dummy for Rotational Evaluation of Wearables), described as a biofidelic rig that behaves like the human body and measures both linear and rotational head motion.
According to Team Wendy, insights from DREW inform the design of liner systems, foam formulations and pad geometries.
The company states that this work feeds into products such as the EXFIL Rescuer helmets, with the aim of supporting the safety of personnel who accept head injury risk as part of their role.
Team Wendy confirms that both EXFIL Rescuer models meet the performance requirements of the BS EN1385:2012 standard for whitewater.
Agencies are able to purchase the helmets in volume through authorised dealers or match the models to their operational requirements through the company’s online channels.
Fire and rescue chiefs responsible for search and rescue capabilities may use this information when reviewing future helmet specifications for operations on land and in water.
Procurement officers in public-safety agencies can factor the BS EN1385:2012 standard compliance and the availability of high-visibility colours into tender requirements for head protection.
Equipment specifiers and technical rescue coordinators may examine the separate EXFIL Rescuer and EXFIL Maritime Rescuer configurations when planning for missions that alternate between urban interfaces, wilderness terrain and swift-water environments.
Training officers involved in swift-water and maritime rescue instruction can consider the under-the-chin retention system and neutrally buoyant liner when assessing student safety during repeated water entries.
Emergency and disaster response managers involved in multi-agency operations may also note that the shared shell platform and accessory compatibility allow teams across different environments to standardise on one helmet family where appropriate.
