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Is it time for EMS and other First Responders to wear bullet proof vest?
Kevlar vests, also known as bulletproof or ballistic vest are worn by Military Soldiers throughout the world to protect themselves from harm and it is not only Soldiers wearing these types of vests anymore now Police Officers worldwide are wearing the Kevlar vest due to the rising number of firearm related death and a rise in homeland terrorism. However, the real questions arise when you look to the other first responders who put themselves in harm’s way such as the EMS. EMS and Firefighters are called to the scene of almost every incident no matter how dangerous and can be put in harm’s way themselves without any protective gear. So, is it not time for the EMS and other first responders to start wearing Kevlar and bulletproofing vest to keep the lives safe as well. EMS and Firefighters are more likely to come into conduct with stabbings from knives and needles then they are to be shot at. But this does not take away the need for the vests or the danger they will face. Kevlar vest today can easily stop a stabbing attack from either a needle or a knife to a specific area. So, it is time to re-evaluate the need for EMS, paramedics, and Firefighters to see if part of their essential life save gear should be a Kevlar or other type of bullet proof vest that they wear in order to save their life so that they may save the lives of other!
There is no guarantee that the attacker will aim for where the vests are protecting. However, the case, when it comes down to it would not you rather have a smaller chance for that attacker to be able to hit your vital organs and mid-section. Along with the knife attacks comes still the threat of the EMS or Firefighters being shot at while attempting to do their job, which just so happened in Selma, Al. in 2016 when 2 EMS were attending to a local call (though it seemed strange when it came through) and were checking a patient’s blood pressure when multiple shots rang out heading towards the EMS workers though luckily neither of the 2 were injured. (Dunigan) Seeing this should put the image in your mind that no one of our First responders are safe and now need body armor and companies like The Best Body Armor are here to provide such needed items. Selling the greatest and latest in the technologies of bulletproof vest exceeding government standard, with NIJ levels up to NIJ 5 you can easily get what you need to keep you and your loved ones safe and out of harm’s way. With products ranging in all different sorts of colors and designs you are sure to find what you are looking for, also looking for trauma pads?! They have them, so whatever you need is and want desires The Best Body Armor has got what is need to ensure that your loved you or our EMS and Firefighters are dully protected.
The above attack is only one example of an attack on a crew of First Responders with attacks on the rise the departments are scrambling to come up with ways to figure out how to keep the paramedics and Firefighters safe and out of unnecessary harm’s way. Some departments have thought about having police escort firefighters to and from the scene, though this would take a lot of valuable time away from the lifesaving ability of the Firefighters. So instead of this what needs to be done is the purchasing of Kevlar vest and other types of ballistic vest so that Firefighters don’t have to worry about being escorted and can quickly respond to the emergency at hand. Likewise, EMS also face the similar problem and it too can be answered in the same fashion, with the purchasing of Kevlar vest so that it takes away the risk harm for the EMS worker and they can carry out their job quickly and efficiently as possible. There are concerns over buttressing our EMS and paramedics as it will seem to be militarizing our paramedics when can be off-putting to some people as we are not a militarized state. However, in a time when people are willing to attack first responders whom are just attempting to save the lives of innocent people it may be time to get over the fear of buttressing the EMS and Firefighters and give them the equipment needed to keep them alive and safe so that they can return home every night. This does not turn us into a militarized stated you see, just a well prepared and well-functioning first aid responding unit. As well as this problem, the vest may be restrictive to the EMS and paramedics as to where they will not they will not be able to do their job efficiently and quickly. What is meant by this is the fact that EMS personal need to be very agile and light on their feet in order to respond to the needs of the patients they are seeking to save. Will the body armor restrict their movements too much and keep them from doing their jobs effectively and efficiently? Will body armor make Firefighter and EMS targets for attacks if they are wearing them? Some people believe so, especially if they are wearing the differentiated colors to distinguish between police and EMS/Firefighters. So, people believe that why wear the different colors, but then the EMS/Firefighters will look just like the cops and as mentioned above the First Responders will soon look like a militarized police force which people will fear and hesitate to utilize.
On Oct. 26, 2015, shots rang out striking the main firehouse in Grand Rapids, proving that these first responders are getting closer and closer to the danger zone a daily basis even when they are still at their “Home Away from Home.” And if they are not truly safe there then they are definitely not going to be safe out in a field environment going up again who knows what exactly. Then another day Firefighters were attacked by a man wielding a box cutter and unfortunately two of the men were injured. Now if they had been wearing vests then very possibly they could have escaped without any type of incident. This is where the companies like The Best Body Armor come back into play with the manufacturing of Kevlar and bulletproof vest that will decrease the chance of anything happening to a loved one wearing them. With products exceeding government standards and NIJ levels all the way up to level NIJ 5, The Best Body Armor produces a various design of vest from ACU Camo, Black, Multi Camo, to Tan Camo so the customer can always get what they need and want in order to keep themselves and others protected. If EMS, Firefighters and other paramedics start to purchase Kevlar and other types of bulletproof vests the questions arises how will they sustain their equipment and supply budget for such things. Because, we all know once a vest is struck it is no longer good, so it has to be switched out, or that a vest can and will expire after a certain amount of years. So, the question arises how will they corral this problem? One way would be to have the personal purchase the device themselves or get grants from the government to purchase these lives saving devices. However, this does not stop the vest from becoming expired if not (hopefully) ever being used. Having this problem would likely cause the EMS and other departments to defer from purchasing the bullet proof vest.
In conclusion, with everything that is going on in this world, even the EMS, Paramedics, and Firefighters are no longer entirely safe from people seeking to do them harm while they are just attempting to save the lives of people in need. So, the question has arisen is it time for these heroes themselves to wear bulletproof vest and Kevlar vest so that they can become as safe as possible while on the job. However, people are concerned of the militarization of the EMS and Firefighters and how the public would react to that since we are not a non-militarized state, how would these departments afford such life saving devices and the price of the upkeep of the vest. Also, EMS are concerned with the maneuverability restrictions that would be put upon them if they were to wear a vest, but does that out way the cost of wearing the vest? So, what can change and happen? The Best Body Armor can happen, with top of the line bullet proof vest exceeding government standards and requirements EMS, Paramedics and Firefighters can get the best type of gear for what they need to keep their lives and comrades safe. With all different NIJ levels up to NIJ LEVEL 5 they are sure to find what they need to get the safety that is required to keep them alive.
Ensuring the safety of the men and women of the police forces within the United States
While US Soldiers are equipped with usually the greatest and latest life saving devices such as Kevlar Helmets, Kevlar bulletproof vest, and extremely fortified tactically equipped vehicles to fight battles overseas in harsh and urban terrain (which makes sense) as they fight battles on a daily basis. Uniformed Police officers who step up to the plate every day to battle crime such as drug dealers, gang members, murderers, and homelands terrorists in urban terrain will go without even decades old life saving devices. On average 1 officer dies every 53 hours within the Unites States and in 2011 68 of the overall deaths of police officers were from firearms related injuries. (Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine) Much of this happens do the lack of funding within police departments and the ability to obtain such equipment such as bulletproof vests and other necessary products as well as cut-back in personnel training. You see many officers that actually do receive bulletproof vest will decide not to wear them as they will say they are too bulky and too heavy, or even too hot, yet not considering the implications in mind of what could happen if they do not wear the vest that day. Another fault happens at the local level especially down in the south wear the heat will climb in to the staggering degrees and officers wearing the vest will once again cling to the excuse of the vest being too hot to wear disregarding the lifesaving implications of the vest.
You see officers will have to get out and have to work traffic in the heat and complain about the vests. It is where law enforcement agencies to work to ensure that they setup local policies to ensure that their officers are doing what is necessary to save their lives. Another problems officers and police departments, especially small under equipped offices face, are expired, out of date vest that no longer are able to make the cut and do the job that is required of the vest in order to save the lives of the officers. When this happens, the officers are just wearing a heavy Kevlar vest that is there for looks and will essentially not stop anything no matter the distance. These expired, out of date vest are really the only concern because when it comes down to it the police departments are not getting these devices for free so essentially once the Kevlar vest is expired the department has essentially thrown away money which will cause a department to rethink about buying more vests in the future or they will continue to use these expired vests way into the future thus putting the officer’s life at risk. This is where companies such as The Best Body Armor come in with the production of light weight and superbly efficient tactical bulletproof vest where local police departments can get such needed equipment for their officers for the field and their safety so that these staggering numbers can decline. With vests exceeding government requirements, NIJ certified up to level 5. Police Departments, even the ones who are on the tightest of budgets can afford to get the brave men and women of law enforcement the lifesaving equipment needed to help to their job in their field.
Once purchased the real problem as mentioned before becomes getting the police officers to wear them and to keep them worn no matter the scenario. As said before the officer usually do not like to wear them in the South while working traffic as the heat tends to rise, nearing the hundreds and wearing a Kevlar or any type of bulletproof vest can get uncomfortable. This is where it is up to the local level police departments to implement the necessary needed required legislation or rules for that department for their officers to keep their vests on. The Federal government can pass laws that require all officers to wear, but if it is not enforced by the departments then nothing will become of this. However, is departments and states get behind it much as the seat belt laws, and the Click it or Ticket Campaign in the state of Florida, Officers will soon be wearing their vest in all conditions thus decreasing the numbers of lives lost to firearm related fatalities. While enforcing at the local level would not make it wear the lower level police departments would be able to afford more Kevlar vest at a more reliable rate it would mean the decrease in the department deaths. With the departments would be more likely to request funding or raise funding to obtain such needed accessories.
With more officers, more likely to wear vest if they are being locally enforced by their Departments, means the opportunity for more expired, out of date Kevlar vest. One issue departments face is the arrival of the vest due to the number of vests ordered. They will complain that they will take weeks to months to arrive thus putting their deputies at risk. (KSL.COM) And this issue will shorten the life span of the vest (though not drastically) by the time it arrived and was ready to be put into use by the officers and their respective police department. This would possibly risk the department ordering the vest entirely if they knew it was going to take such a long time to receive the Kevlar vest for their officers. Again, that is where companies such as The Best Body Armor come into play. Offering quick and FREE SHIPPING on products that will SAVE the lives of the wearer! With products up to NIJ level 5 rated and all different types of camouflage and MOLLE accessories every Police Department can get the equipment that they need to keep the lives of their Officers safer than ever.
Another factor that will boost the wear rate of the wonderful life saving devices are more updated technologies to ensure that the Police Officers, like the military, have the most up to date devices to ensure their safety here at home where it is slowly becoming more like a battlefield in some cities and gang territories. Bulletproof vest manufacturers are required to meet and in most cases, exceed requirement setup by the government to ensure that the Kevlar vest are capable and proven to do the job. Some of these standards are or include: Increased test velocities for Types IIA, II, and IIIA vests. An increase in the number of shots under which each vest must perform reliably. That number is nearly 90% higher than it was under the previous standard. Test panels must pass a submersion test where the vests must be fully immersed in 70-degree water for 30 minutes prior to being tested. A requirement for the vest to perform reliably after an accelerated aging process. (Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine) With these higher standards and requirements, it is going to prove that these Kevlar Vest are reliable and safe and are going to go the distance when needed to save the life of an Officer in the line of fire while doing their duty to protect the citizens of the United States.
In conclusion where as our soldiers, who see combat and risk their lives to ensure we have the freedoms necessary to conduct the perfect American Life receive the newest and latest in life saving technology, many officers here on the home front who risk their lives on a daily basis so that we can enjoy the freedoms go without Kevlar vest and other types of bulletproof vests that are needed to keep them safe and alive. And unfortunately, in some cases when they do have the needed Kevlar vest they are either outdated, they are expired, or the officers are not enforced to wear them and choose not to because of the bulkiness of them and the heat, and what good is a vest if it is not on or is expired or outdated. This is where local enforcement from department heads come in and enforce the wearing of these lifesaving Kevlar vests. As well as newer and better designs and research into the technology of bulletproofing is so vital. And as mentioned earlier that is where companies such as The Best Body Armor come into play yet again. Creating and selling bulletproof vest ranging all types of NIJ levels all the way up to NIJ level 5 a plate and ranging from a vast selection of colors from black to tans to several Camos, Police departments and the average security guard are now capable of getting the safety devices that they need in order to continue to carry out doing their jobs to best of their ability to protect the wonderful citizens of the Unites States of America while putting themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis.