The bulletproof vest is one of the most vital pieces of equipment a police or law enforcement officer uses daily. It can either be worn outside or underneath an officer’s uniform, whichever way it is worn, it must fit correctly.
The following tips are important to note to ensure your body armor not only fits for comfort and maximum protection:
• Never forget to properly adjust your body armor and plate carrier so they cover your vital organs like the heart and lungs as much as possible.
• When you have to wear a bulletproof vest, note that ballistic protection is more important than comfort.
• When ballistic gear fits the right way, it provides the officer protection and comfort. The best way to guarantee that a bulletproof vest fits properly is to have it custom fitted.
• When having a fitting, multiple factors should be taken into consideration.
• Body armor should be fitted with enough room for movement and ensuring it is not too loose.
• Bulletproof vest should also not be too tight that the officer is restricted and unable to move
• A bulletproof vest should not be too long or too short. When it’s, it too long can interfere with the duty belt, and when it is too short, it does not offer enough coverage.
• Inner panels should not overlap. Wearing ballistic panels too close together can cause damage and may contribute to restriction of movement.
• Straps on armor vests should be secure enough to avoid unwanted movement, should however not be too tightly strapped. When the straps are adjusted correctly, it prevents unnecessary wear and tear on the outer carrier, as well as the inner ballistic panel.
• Finally, In order to become more comfortable with your body armor, it is a good to fit in a new armor or bulletproof vest by wearing it outside of work until it feels natural and quite comfortable.
• Practice wearing it in and out of uniform before going on duty to help with the adjustment.
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