The Command Post - Iraq - Kevlar is saving lives

April 07, 2003

Kevlar is saving lives

Found in the SF Chronicle, a great story:

Although there is no such thing as an invincible bullet-proof vest, the protective gear -- helmets lined with Kevlar and body vests that use Kevlar and 1-inch-thick ceramic plates -- has reduced the number of injuries to coalition forces.
In one well-publicized example, British Royal Marine Commando Eric Walderman took four shots to the head during a firefight at the port of Umm Qasr, but was not hurt because the bullets did not penetrate his Kevlar helmet.

"Many people are alive today because they were wearing their body armor and their Kevlar helmet," said Col. Clifford Cloonan, who heads the military and emergency medicine department at the Bethesda, M.D., hospital that trains U.S. military doctors for battlefield work.

Posted By Meryl Yourish at April 7, 2003 02:59 PM | TrackBack

Comments

Eric Walderman, soon-to-be-spokesman for Excedrin!

Posted by: jerry at April 7, 2003 03:06 PM

Phat, P.Diddy, Seditious, Radical are taking notes for fall fashion line.

Posted by: jerry at April 7, 2003 03:08 PM

Newsflash: Bulletproof vests stop bullets.

Next up: Binoculars helps coalition forces see much better.

Posted by: Chris at April 7, 2003 03:45 PM

Maybe, you should thank the company that makes that body armor, it's an aluminium composite material that is made in Edmonton, Canada.

Posted by: James at April 7, 2003 03:59 PM

Kevlar is over-rated. I had a Wilson tennis racket once, and it was made with kevlar. After a missed shot, I hit it against the ground in frustration... and it broke right in half.

On the other hand, I suppose soldiers will be okay as long as they're merely getting hit with bullets, rather than being bodyslammed by tennis players with anger management issues.

Posted by: Ryan at April 7, 2003 05:00 PM

not all is made in canada, some is made here in tennessee:

http://www.wbir.com/News/archives.asp?Search=body+armor&ID=11908&startrange=1/1/2003&endrange=4/7/2003

Posted by: mike lawson at April 7, 2003 05:20 PM