"As a firefighter i can assure you, if trapped, we do NOT  "toss his helmet out the nearest window, signaling to others below on the street that he needs help."  I know there's a certain well known movie that portrays  this happening. However, like much of that movie, that is "Hollywood Free Lancing. The "helmet toss" is not taught in any modern rookie school.  If I can make it close enough to that window, I'm going to go out that window. If I'm hurt or trapped I'm going to call a MAYDAY on the radio we all carry now.  The helmet protects me from heat, flame, steam, as well as debris.  That is a big assumption that someone would even see the helmet. Or that it would even break the window.  How would they know what window it flew out of?  "