During this time of year, parents and children alike are preparing to return back to school.
Key Takeaways
School and campus protection decisions should begin with policy, training, threat assessment, and emergency planning.
Armor products can support a broader safety plan but should not replace prevention, communication, or response procedures.
Backpack panels and soft armor should be evaluated by coverage, weight, fit, certification claims, and realistic use.
Legal, school, and agency rules should be reviewed before purchasing or deploying protective equipment.
During this time of year, parents and children alike are preparing to return back to school. Unfortunately in today’s world, this also means considering taking extra safety precautions. Body armor is one of the best ways to help provide some extra safety and security in school situations, from armored vests for the school’s security to bulletproof backpacks to help protect students. There is a wide variety of different tools that can help make back-to-school time a little less stressful and provide some more peace of mind when it counts!
Editorial intent: Commercial Investigation; Buying Guide. This guide is part of the Ace Link Armor soft armor knowledge base and should be read with related fit, protection, and product-selection resources.
Continue reading: For more context on soft armor decisions, compare this guide with The Best Body Armor For Your Career In 2022, Fragments Protection in Body Armor: Complete Guide, Defective Body Armor: A Step-by-Step Guide, Body Armor Innovations: Bulletproof Vest Complete Guide.
WHAT’S THE BEST BULLETPROOF VEST FOR SCHOOL SECURITY?
School security should have their own set of armor, preferably a bulletproof vest to help protect them from potential threats. These vests should protect them but also be comfortable enough to wear all day long. This makes a soft armor vest, especially one that offers dual protection from knives and blunt objects, a great option for any security officers while at school. A soft armored vest still provides plenty of excellent protection, however, in addition to being comfortable. Most of these vests provide 3A level protection, which will protect you against almost all handgun rounds. This level of armor provides the best overall protection in comparison to the weight and comfort levels it provides.
BULLETPROOF BACKPACKS FOR KIDS
As effective as bulletproof vests are, they are simply not realistic when it comes to kids. So what do you do when you can’t use or wear a bulletproof vest? Bulletproof backpacks not only provide for your child’s safety but gives you your own peace of mind. While no parent wants there to ever be a need for these types of things, it is always better to have it than not. And while no backpack or vest provides invincibility during a dangerous situation, they do provide an important layer of bullet-stopping material than can easily save a life.
Not only are bulletproof backpacks able to give you extra peace of mind, but they also provide protection without standing out or drawing any extra attention. Bulletproof backpacks look just like ordinary school backpacks, and no one will even know that they can stop a bullet if the need arises.
THE BEST BULLETPROOF BACKPACKS
Not all bulletproof backpacks are created equal. Some are very basic in their design and simply provide a space to place a bulletproof insert, while others go above and beyond to give you a deployable vest to allow for better protection. For example, the Rapid Deploy Bulletproof Backpack from Ace Link Armor gives you a complete vest that deploys from the backpack and provides both frontal and backside coverage for ultimate protection.
From the outside, the Rapid Deploy backpack appears like any other basic backpack. With a quick motion, however, you can deploy the front coverage bulletproof vest and have the coverage of a full vest straight from the backpack. From a casual backpack to a quick bulletproof vest, this product is perfect for those that want added protection and security without advertising it. Whether it is for a student or security guard, this backpack is perfect for those wanting concealable protection that can be rapidly deployed when needed.
SHOULD CAMPUS POLICE WEAR HELMETS?
With all of the talk about ballistic armor and bulletproof gear, many people may wonder if the campus police and school security officers should also be wearing helmets. While it is true that ballistic helmets can offer some additional protection and that a shot to the head can be fatal, they are simply not realistic to wear on an everyday basis. This is the same reason that police will wear bulletproof vests but not helmets while they are on patrol.
Even though helmets give you this extra protection, they are also extremely cumbersome and heavy. This makes them very uncomfortable, so for campus police that are working all day, this means that they are simply not realistic to wear. On top of being heavy and uncomfortable, they also put more people on edge than a simple bulletproof vest. Many vests are also concealable, while a helmet is not.
CONCEALABLE VESTS FOR SAFTEY OFFICERS:
Many school safety officers who wear vests have the option of wearing one of these concealable vests. This can be a great option, but not all vests that are “concealable” are actually small enough or provide the protection needed to be useful. Luckily there are vests like the Skeletac Hybrid bulletproof vest that can give you the best of both worlds. Providing 3A level protection, this vest is extremely flexible and lightweight thanks to its panels and construction.
The best aspect of this vest is its versatility. Although it can easily function as an outer vest that can even hold different armor plates and panels, this vest really shines as a concealable option that can be worn underneath other clothing. And even though it is thin and lightweight, it can still stop multiple threats from things like 9mm, 40 S&W, 357 Mag, and 44 Magnum. The unique design helps to disperse the impact from these rounds and protects you better than any other vest.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Schools starting back up after a long summer break is often an exciting time of year, but in today’s times, it also comes with a little hesitation. Luckily there are plenty of protection options that you can employ in order to help protect you and your loved ones during the back-to-school activities, and you can enjoy more peace of mind at the same time!
Recommended Soft Armor Products
Product fit depends on the user, threat profile, and environment. For this topic, the most relevant product paths are: Bulletproof backpack panels; rapid deploy backpack armor; concealable soft armor for security personnel. Verify sizing, protection level, and current product specifications before purchasing.
