Ensuring Officer Safety with Tactical Armor and Riot Gear
Police officers and other public safety professionals have to serve in ever more complex and challenging situations thanks to today’s growing protest movements. Since they need to protect people and property while keeping their cool, your officers need gear they can count on. Proper riot gear and other advanced tactical protection put your team in the right mindset to face any challenge. Learn how to address the main threats to officer safety with top-quality products from Haven Gear.
The Essentials of Officer Safety
Riot gear has a polarizing name, but it’s recommended whenever your officers deal with public unrest. Some pieces are even recommended for general public events where there’s the potential for falls due to uneven terrain. While tactical gear is primarily designed to withstand targeted attacks, it’s also valuable in case of accidents.
Common Risk Factors to Law Enforcement Officer Safety
No matter the type of situation, public safety and police officers face a similar set of risk factors. The best riot gear will protect from all four of these common threats while remaining comfortable to wear.
The most common threat during public unrest is a direct physical attack. Shoving, hitting, and other non-lethal threats can nonetheless lead to serious injuries: helmets, shields, chest, and arm protection are crucial for dealing with these threats.
As with direct physical contact, thrown objects and improvised projectiles often pose a risk to police officers responding to any public gathering. They’re even more common than physical contact in some instances. A riot gear suit is recommended since thrown projectiles and objects like rocks can injure any body part.
Chemical exposure can occur due to the deployment of tear gas, pepper spray, and other deterrents that easily blow back on the officers using them. There’s also the potential for sprays or irritating smoke released by the protesters. Gas masks offer the most protection, but even a full-face shield helmet will help.
Some risk factors when policing the public have nothing to do with unrest or violence. Uneven street surfaces, compromised visibility, and sudden crowd movements can cause safety officers to be injured from accidental trips and falls. Leg and arm protection protects from injuries, while helmets that prioritize visibility can prevent them.
Considering Other Factors Like Body Heat and Airflow
Unless the tactical equipment is designed with ventilation in mind, there’s also the risk of heat exhaustion and heat stroke. Good airflow ensures your team can stay focused on a complex situation and keep their wits about them. Heat exhaustion raises the chances of trip and fall injuries, so it’s good news that many of the same features that increase visibility also help reduce overheating.
What Parts Make Up a Standard Tactical Suit?
While every tactical suit works best with customization to fit the needs of your team, most full kits include a combination of the following:
- Riot helmets, ranging from bare face shields to completely enclosed gas masks
- Suits and body wear, which can consist of plate carrier options for ballistic protection
- Leg and arm guards, covering the entire limb or just the joints
- Gloves, ranging from armored to basic coverage
- Shields, carry bags, and other essential pieces of equipment.
Supporting Hydration with Advanced Tactical Gear
Some tactical gear even comes equipped with cooling and hydration systems. These upgrades are essential in warmer climates to keep officers comfortable in dangerous situations. Almost every part of the country can experience heat waves that often coincide with protests or sporting event riots, making this kind of hot weather gear essential.
Customizing Your Gear with the Help of Haven
Haven Gear is happy to help you find the riot suits to enable your officers to act with full mobility while feeling secure in even the most extreme crowd control situations. Our suits are fully customizable, giving you exactly the results you need for the various branches of law enforcement you need to supply. Check out our selection today to find the right options for your police officers, riot squad, crowd control officers, and more.