Body armor Essay Example for Free

Body armor Essay Body armor and other protective equipment are vital components of with-in protection services because it shields the body from severe injury that may be associated with the nature of the job. Body armor and other protective equipment are generally designed to shelter the body from materials that come in with a particular velocity or force, such as bullets and knives. This man-made material is designed to prevent the entry that could result in the destruction of internal organs. The body armor prevents damage to the abdominal area of an individual, while the other protective equipment prevents injury to the extremities such as the arm and legs. When a material such as a bullet or a knife is introduced to a body with sheer force, the body armor prevents its entry yet the force still results in a form of shock to the body and this is technically called blunt trauma. There are two general types of body armor, namely soft and hard. Soft body armor is generally composed of one of two fibers, namely aramid and polyethylene that are configured in a particular weave. There are some brands that contain both types of fibers. Unfortunately, soft body armors can only protect an individual from the regular forces such as knives and bullets but are not sturdy enough to prevent bullets coming from machine guns. In this situation, hard body armors are employed for protection and these equipments are composed of plates made of ceramic material. Hard body armors are made of two plates that are positioned to cover the front and the back of an individual. Since ceramic plates are usually rigid, an individual may find this protective material heavy and movement may be restricted. DQ 2: The use of biological weapons has become an increased threat, and amplified since 911. What can we do to prepare for such an attack and or minimize the catastrophic aftermath? In order to be prepared for a possible terrorist attack that involves biological weapons, it is important that government agencies, especially those responsible for monitoring public health, to design contingency plans that would tackle incidents associated with the deliberate introduction of biological weapons to harm a specific population or even the general public. The contingency plan should also be a regular part of the health response system that also deals with pandemic outbreaks, large-scale accidents, as well as natural disasters. In 2002, the World Health Assembly of the United Nations adopted a technical support program that prepares each of the member states to prepare an action plan that would address any future catastrophes (WHO, 2004). For every city, it is important to create an initial response team that would take action whenever a terrorist attack occurs. This initial response team will determine the nature of the attack, on whether it is biological, industrial or bomb-based. The initial response team carries this exclusive responsibility because they are physically present in the city and it is very easy for them to go to the place that has been attacked in order to generate a first-hand account of the incident to higher authorities. Once the nature of the terrorist attack has been established, the initial response team will inform the state agency of the incident, which will in turn report to the national agency. This office will then report to the United Nations office for subsequent action, such as international assistance, in case that the country is incapable of dealing with the disaster, or if the attack is synchronized among several states, such as that depicted in September 11, 2001 in the United States. Biological attacks can also be minimized by vigilant screening of activities in every city and state around the country, including reporting any peculiar individuals that are spotted in strategic locations around the state. Reference World Health Organization. (2004). Public health response to biological and chemical weapons: WHO guidance, 2nd ed. Geneva: World Health Organization. ISBN 92 4 154615 8. Downloaded from http://www. who. int/csr/delibepidemics/cover. pdf on June 17, 2009.