Protecting yourself against stabs and bullets

by SafeGuard Armor

What type of protection do you need? What is the threat you may face most probably? Are you afraid of getting shot at or are you afraid of being stabbed in the back street? These are the question you must answer before selecting a particular type of body armor.

Depending on your particular situation, you will need the type of body armor that will provide you with the highest protection possible. Defining the type of threat you may face is critically important. There are two types of body armor available – bullet proof and stab proof body armor. Bullet proof vests are obviously meant for protecting the body from gunfire, whereas stab proof vests provide protection from stab attacks.

We aren’t speaking of your activity or occupation. Let’s just focus on the type of threat. First of all, your activity/occupation predefines the type of threats you can encounter. So, take a minute and think about the situation you need body armor for – work, way home, neighborhood, etc. Then, take a few more moments and think about the most probable threats that you are subject to. Great! Now, let’s move onto the details.

Bullet proof vests are obviously designed to protect the wearer’s body from ballistic attacks. Bullet proof vests are good for military persons, police officers, and probably civilians, who live in dangerous neighborhoods. There are different bullet proof vest ratings issued by the NIJ (National Institute of Justice of the USA), which refer to different calibers and velocities. The higher the protection level, the greater ballistic protection preferences the vest provides.

Bullet proof vests are available for purchase to civilians in the UK and USA. You can purchase a range of vests from online retailers, a reputable and well known one being SafeGuard Clothing.The law (in most instances) doesn’t prohibit the possession and wearing of bullet proof vests. But, note that while you can wear a covert bullet proof vest whenever and wherever and nobody will ask you about it, if you put on a covert bullet proof vest, you will most probably get stopped by the police and will have to answer some of their questions. Of course, if you’re on duty, you’re on duty.

Stab proof vests provide protection from knife attacks. These are best for prison warders and security guards, mostly. Same as with bullet proof vests, there are covert and overt stab proof vests. But, in this case, it’s always better to wear a covert vest, because this way you won’t hint the attacker, where your vulnerable, unprotected spots are.

Whether you need a stab proof or bullet proof vest, make certain you have calculated the most probable threats and risks and will get the best protection possible with it. If you are buying a covert vest, ensure it matches the color of your uniform to make it less prominent – you don’t want to give any hints to the person that can attack you. In case you need body armor for your job, take your time to talk about it with your boss. Maybe, they will provide you with body armor and you won’t have to spend money for it. But, even if you will simply get more information about what your body armor should be like (i.e. protection levels, color, etc.), this will be worth it.

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This article appears courtesy of Prepper-Resources.com, one of the premier prepper/survival blogs online today. Whether you are a new or experienced prepper feel free to visit and check out all of the other valuable information posted there.