Post by woodyz on May 23, 2016 7:51:55 GMT -7
Cut, Stab & Puncture Protection In An Austere Environment
One of the most primitive threats one can face is that of being cut, stabbed or punctured. These threats can manifest from an intentional attack, such as being stabbed by an attacker, or from negligence, like by stepping on a nail or cutting your hand while sifting through debris. While a relatively low percentage of the population has experienced being shot by a firearm, nearly everyone has experienced an accidental cut at some point in their life. Puncture wounds to the feet, grabbing vegetation with thorns or being bitten by an animal is far more likely to happen to you than being shot. Those that regularly work with tools know the importance of safety gear to prevent injury from equipment. Did you know that one of the most common weapons on the planet is a simple knife? And that it’s found in every city, town and country around the world?
While some preparedness-minded individuals imagine threat scenarios involving a gunfight, many overlook non-ballistic threats that are actually far more common. These dangers grow worse in austere environments where medical attention is either a long way off or not coming at all. In those situations, injury carries with it the risk of infections, poisoning, disease and death. Risks of bacterial wound infections in trauma patients include gas gangrene and tetanus. Puncture wounds force bacteria and debris into living tissue and organs, which tend to close quickly, forming an ideal environment for pathogenic organisms to multiple and grow. Without proper care this can develop into long-term disabilities, chronic wound and bone infections and death. Designers of protective gear have developed materials to directly address these threats. The purpose of my article is to encourage readers to add this to their preparedness list. Please do not assume I am ignoring the possibility of a gunfight or advising anyone to ignore ballistic protection. Rather, my point is that, statistically, you are much more likely to face one of the many different cut, stab and puncture [hereinafter “CSP”] threats than you are to experience a gunfight – although both could happen.
First, determine the level of CSP protection that fits your environment. If you’re off to see a sporting event, do you have protection from someone who sticks you with a broken glass bottle if the crowd gets out of control? If you’re in the city and come across a protest do you have protection from someone who throws a rock at your head? Do you have protection against a criminal who plans to survive by stabbing you with his two dollar knife and taking your gear? These are all examples of attacks that happen daily around the world, even in current times. In the event of a breakdown of civil order these forms of attack may be even more common as they are easy to commit and potentially deadly. Imagine how frustrating it would be for an otherwise well-stocked and prepared person to be taken down by such a simple attack?
Stab threats are much more difficult to thwart than slashing threats. However, you will find that armor designed to protect against stab threats tends to be less flexible and less comfortable than that designed for slashing threats. As such, the starting point of protection is to guard against slashing attacks. Many companies offer products to minimize cutting risks, for example HexArmor.com, Turtleskin.com and SuperiorGlove.com. These companies can provide cut protection up to the American Society of Testing and Materials [ASTM] ANSI Level 5. Many industry-specific gloves and other personal protective equipment is available to address certain threats over and above CSP, such as from handling chemicals. Choosing something that maintains its integrity with a lot of wear but also offers protection may be the best fit for a person in a survival situation.
My recommendation for your first purchase against intentional CSP attacks is a pair of cut-resistant, puncture-resistant gloves. Your hands are naturally going to come up in defense if you’re approached by a threat, and your gloved, protected hands are a much better target for the attack than the rest of your body. Further, a pair of quality gloves with protection will guard against accidental injury from debris, such as what you might encounter if you were sorting through debris and came across a discarded needle. Don’t rely on your winter gloves or gloves better suited for yardwork!
Next, consider purchasing a slash-resistant shirt. The online retailers cited above have selections that look identical to a common polo shirt and others that wear and feel much like a long-sleeved shirt. These items are worn daily by corrections officers, police and security personnel but are helpful for everyone interested in boosting their protection from slashing attacks.
If stab protection is desired, there will be a trade-off between comfort and protection. “Stab” protection can be something as simple as a knife thrust or needle attack, or it could come from stepping on something sharp. The National Institute of Justice [NIJ] has test standards for stab- and puncture-resistant body armor. NIJ Standard 0115.00 generally categorizes three “Levels” of stab threats [I, II, III]. Each level brings with it a greater level of stiffness with the protection. As such, consider sites like Bulletproofme.com and others that offer stab-resistant clothing.
Foot protection is typically in the form is purchasing boots with an aluminum shank. If you anticipate being in an environment where debris is strewn around or a combat setting, or even a dangerous work environment during normal times, you don’t want to find yourself without foot protection.
It’s amazing to read the list of preparedness items in many people’s gear and see a total lack of forethought about CSP threats. Don’t make the same mistake!
www.thesurvivalistblog.net/cut-stab-puncture-protection-austere-environment/
One of the most primitive threats one can face is that of being cut, stabbed or punctured. These threats can manifest from an intentional attack, such as being stabbed by an attacker, or from negligence, like by stepping on a nail or cutting your hand while sifting through debris. While a relatively low percentage of the population has experienced being shot by a firearm, nearly everyone has experienced an accidental cut at some point in their life. Puncture wounds to the feet, grabbing vegetation with thorns or being bitten by an animal is far more likely to happen to you than being shot. Those that regularly work with tools know the importance of safety gear to prevent injury from equipment. Did you know that one of the most common weapons on the planet is a simple knife? And that it’s found in every city, town and country around the world?
While some preparedness-minded individuals imagine threat scenarios involving a gunfight, many overlook non-ballistic threats that are actually far more common. These dangers grow worse in austere environments where medical attention is either a long way off or not coming at all. In those situations, injury carries with it the risk of infections, poisoning, disease and death. Risks of bacterial wound infections in trauma patients include gas gangrene and tetanus. Puncture wounds force bacteria and debris into living tissue and organs, which tend to close quickly, forming an ideal environment for pathogenic organisms to multiple and grow. Without proper care this can develop into long-term disabilities, chronic wound and bone infections and death. Designers of protective gear have developed materials to directly address these threats. The purpose of my article is to encourage readers to add this to their preparedness list. Please do not assume I am ignoring the possibility of a gunfight or advising anyone to ignore ballistic protection. Rather, my point is that, statistically, you are much more likely to face one of the many different cut, stab and puncture [hereinafter “CSP”] threats than you are to experience a gunfight – although both could happen.
First, determine the level of CSP protection that fits your environment. If you’re off to see a sporting event, do you have protection from someone who sticks you with a broken glass bottle if the crowd gets out of control? If you’re in the city and come across a protest do you have protection from someone who throws a rock at your head? Do you have protection against a criminal who plans to survive by stabbing you with his two dollar knife and taking your gear? These are all examples of attacks that happen daily around the world, even in current times. In the event of a breakdown of civil order these forms of attack may be even more common as they are easy to commit and potentially deadly. Imagine how frustrating it would be for an otherwise well-stocked and prepared person to be taken down by such a simple attack?
Stab threats are much more difficult to thwart than slashing threats. However, you will find that armor designed to protect against stab threats tends to be less flexible and less comfortable than that designed for slashing threats. As such, the starting point of protection is to guard against slashing attacks. Many companies offer products to minimize cutting risks, for example HexArmor.com, Turtleskin.com and SuperiorGlove.com. These companies can provide cut protection up to the American Society of Testing and Materials [ASTM] ANSI Level 5. Many industry-specific gloves and other personal protective equipment is available to address certain threats over and above CSP, such as from handling chemicals. Choosing something that maintains its integrity with a lot of wear but also offers protection may be the best fit for a person in a survival situation.
My recommendation for your first purchase against intentional CSP attacks is a pair of cut-resistant, puncture-resistant gloves. Your hands are naturally going to come up in defense if you’re approached by a threat, and your gloved, protected hands are a much better target for the attack than the rest of your body. Further, a pair of quality gloves with protection will guard against accidental injury from debris, such as what you might encounter if you were sorting through debris and came across a discarded needle. Don’t rely on your winter gloves or gloves better suited for yardwork!
Next, consider purchasing a slash-resistant shirt. The online retailers cited above have selections that look identical to a common polo shirt and others that wear and feel much like a long-sleeved shirt. These items are worn daily by corrections officers, police and security personnel but are helpful for everyone interested in boosting their protection from slashing attacks.
If stab protection is desired, there will be a trade-off between comfort and protection. “Stab” protection can be something as simple as a knife thrust or needle attack, or it could come from stepping on something sharp. The National Institute of Justice [NIJ] has test standards for stab- and puncture-resistant body armor. NIJ Standard 0115.00 generally categorizes three “Levels” of stab threats [I, II, III]. Each level brings with it a greater level of stiffness with the protection. As such, consider sites like Bulletproofme.com and others that offer stab-resistant clothing.
Foot protection is typically in the form is purchasing boots with an aluminum shank. If you anticipate being in an environment where debris is strewn around or a combat setting, or even a dangerous work environment during normal times, you don’t want to find yourself without foot protection.
It’s amazing to read the list of preparedness items in many people’s gear and see a total lack of forethought about CSP threats. Don’t make the same mistake!
www.thesurvivalistblog.net/cut-stab-puncture-protection-austere-environment/