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By Rachel Zoch, SA国际传媒 BrandFocus Staff

We know that ballistic vests save lives and that wearing body armor is becoming more common with EMS. But what do you need to know to prolong the life of this lifesaving garment?

Taking care of your body armor isn鈥檛 complicated, but it is important to do it right. It鈥檚 also important to make sure your armor fits properly 鈥� .

Here are seven do鈥檚 and don鈥檛s for proper cleaning and care of body armor to keep your ballistic vest in good shape as long as possible.

1. DO Read the Care Instructions

Let鈥檚 be honest 鈥� most of us don鈥檛 bother reading the instructions that come with a new purchase. Whether you receive instructions with your vest or have to go download them, it鈥檚 important to read and follow them to avoid accidentally damaging your vest and voiding the warranty. The manufacturer鈥檚 instructions should explain how to clean and store your armor.

Handling your vest improperly could ruin the ballistic fibers, warns Ace Laserna, national armor sales manager for Propper, which offers several . Be sure to read the instructions carefully and follow them to the letter to get the maximum protective benefit from the vest 鈥� and so you don鈥檛 accidentally void the manufacturer鈥檚 warranty.

鈥淚t鈥檚 very important to read the instructions carefully and follow them to the letter if you really want to get the maximum benefit and maximum protection from your vest for years to come,鈥� he said, 鈥渂ecause if you don鈥檛 follow the instructions, there鈥檚 no guarantee that that the vests are going to work properly.鈥�

2. 顿翱狈鈥橳 Get Your Armor Soaking Wet

Soft ballistic armor can stop a bullet, but it is not machine washable. Generally, Kevlar/aramid panels are housed inside a watertight sleeve, which is then inserted into an internal or external carrier. Assuming the watertight seal has not been broken, it鈥檚 OK to get the ballistic insert wet without damaging the fibers.

But Laserna warns that it鈥檚 best to avoid submerging the insert just in case the seal has been broken. Submerging tightly woven fabric like Kevlar in water can loosen the material, causing it to degrade and break down.

鈥淲e recommend keeping the whole insert dry to prevent possible water intrusion if the seal is broken,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen the fibers loosen up and separate, you鈥檒l lose the protection. The weave begins to relax, and that鈥檚 when bullets get through. That material can鈥檛 do its job if those fibers have loosened too much.鈥�

In short, washing your soft armor will turn it into heavy cloth with no ballistic benefit, so don鈥檛 put it in the washing machine. (Don鈥檛 dry clean it, either, adds Laserna.)

You can wash the carrier vest by itself on the gentle/delicate setting 鈥� and you should, especially after any particularly messy calls 鈥� but hang it to dry and don鈥檛 use fabric softener. Be sure to first remove any ballistic panels, trauma plates and straps before laundering and clean them separately, and reassemble your armor only after the carrier is completely dry.

3. DO Spot-clean Your Armor

鈥淒on鈥檛 wash your armor鈥� doesn鈥檛 mean you can鈥檛 (or shouldn鈥檛) clean it. Just like anything else you wear, that ballistic vest naturally gets sweaty and dirty and needs to be freshened up. It鈥檚 important that you clean your carrier regularly, as you鈥檙e likely to come in contact with any number of bodily fluids from patients 鈥� not to mention your own sweat 鈥� during a shift.

To thoroughly spot-clean your ballistic vest, sponge it off with a little soap and water and a clean cloth, then wipe away any excess moisture and hang it to dry. Be sure to use a mild soap detergent like Dawn or baby wipes. Avoid alcohol or bleach wipes, as those chemicals can break down the ballistic material.

Inspect your armor closely for any holes or tear as you wipe it down. If the outer waterproof membrane is compromised, the inner core of the vest can get wet and break down, losing its ballistic protection properties.

It might be tempting to spray a vest that鈥檚 gotten particularly funky with Febreze or Lysol, but don鈥檛 鈥� the moisture can damage the ballistic material.

4. DO Hang Your Armor to Dry

Do not put it in the washing machine, do not dry clean it, and do not use an electric dryer, says Laserna. Let your vest air dry.

Although armor certification tests include temperature extremes, it鈥檚 best to store your armor vest flat, and in a cool, dry place to prolong its useful life.

5. DO Roll Your New Armor to Increase Comfort

Although it seems contradictory to the advice to store your vest flat, Dianne Zanzottera, a former police officer and Propper鈥檚 armor customer service specialist, advises customers to roll up a new soft armor vest to make it more comfortable more quickly.

鈥淪ometimes I鈥檒l get a vest here and start trying to work it in for them,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ecause otherwise, the only way they鈥檙e going to work it in and make it feel comfortable is by wearing it.鈥�

Propper recommends that when you receive your new vest, you remove the ballistic panels from the carrier when not in use, roll them and secure them with a rubber band. Repeat the process between uses two or three times in each direction, alternating between rolling horizontally and vertically, for a more comfortable vest.

Be careful to avoid creasing the vest when rolling and unrolling it, adds Laserna.

6. DO Wear a Shirt Under Your Vest

Ballistic vests are made to protect you from bullets, but they aren鈥檛 necessarily comfortable. A vest meant to go over your uniform keeps the ballistic material off your skin, but a concealed vest requires an undergarment, such as a , to prevent chafing and minimize odors from sweat.

7. DO Keep Your Warranty on File

In the unfortunate event that you need your vest serviced, keep the paperwork for reference, including the serial number, proof of purchase and purchase date. These documents will also contain important information like the certified service life so you鈥檒l know when it鈥檚 time to replace your armor. In general, it should be five years for soft armor and up to 10 for hard plates. Check your paperwork to be sure, as different manufacturers may offer different warranties.