When it comes to bulletproof vests for law enforcement, it’s not a one-size-fits-all kind of fit, especially for women.
“You start to feel like you can’t breathe. I’ve had moments when I had to calm myself down because almost like having a panic attack before sitting on chest so for hours,” College Station Police Officer Meredith Paul said.
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She says female officers get bruises, chaffing, and irritation on their skin when they wear the traditional soft armor bulletproof vests that were made by men and for men.
Texas A&M University School of Public Health researcher Andrea Porter has been testing more comfortable, better-fitting, safer, soft armor bulletproof vests for female officers for three years now.
“This is a concave vest for the female chest,” she tells KPRC 2 Daniella Guzman. “This is a unisex vest, completely flat as you can see. Research found bra fit makes all the difference.”
Over the last decade, technology has come along way to make the armor safer for women, and more comfortable for any sized woman. Porter found that cup size isn’t the main issue, it’s about the concave chest. Dealing with that allows more room for comfort and adjustable sides. That’s why they can be custom-made for the best fit.
Porter’s version has double-layer fabric, and it’s been tested at the firing range.
“We used a mannequin with silicone breasts and a bra and then put armor on it so it simulate a human body,” she says.
Feedback on the vests is positive, including that the vest makes it easier for officers to run and breathe.
Porter adds, “It’s amazing. I couldn’t do what they do, but I can do this.”
