Physical Injuries caused by Bulletproof Vests
There has been a steady increase in the weight of external loads carried by law enforcement officers in the last few years. A bulletproof vest and tactical vest have evolved significantly in the past few decades. In some cases, an external load like a bulletproof vest can weigh more than 40 kg and weighs between 3.5 and 22kg for general duty officers and more than 40kg for specialist police. It is because modern tactical and bulletproof vests have become increasingly complex that their weight has increased. In military environments, additional load such as body armor or bulletproof is known to reduce fatalities, particularly from stab attacks.
According to a study conducted on military personnel, external load carriage can lead to:
- Musculoskeletal injuries (e.g. back pain, lower limb stress fractures)
- Neurological injuries (e.g. brachial plexus palsy)
- Integumentary injuries (e.g. chafing, blisters)
Physical strain caused by additional occupational duties can be a cause of illness, because of depressed immune function, especially in officers with smaller bodies and less physical fitness. Additionally, reduced carrier mobility may impair mission capabilities and performance. Moreover, it increases the amount of time it takes to complete tasks. Marksmanship can be affected by these impairments, along with the physiological costs of carrying out a task when on duty.
Additionally, the external load that this equipment adds to the tactical population has been associated with an increased rate of injury and decreased operational capability. In addition to enhancing personnel safety, military body armor can also adversely affect a person’s ability to tolerate heat. As a result, bulletproof vests provide wearers with protection, but also can pose physiological risks.
It is not easy for law enforcement and military officers to perform optimally if they are continually impeded by the heavy weight of bulletproof vests.
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