56
M. S. Parmar et al.
injury to the abdomen and 29 injuries to the chest. Researchers [5, 6] studied on
the victims of stab injury in a hospital emergency admission and observed medical
consequences of stabbing. On the basis of the study, they suggested requirement
of suitable body armour for police personnel. In this study, wounds were analyzed
using Injury Severity Score System. The Injury Severity Score (ISS) is an anatomical
scoring system that provides an overall score for patients with multiple injuries. Each
injury was assigned an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score and was allocated to
one of six body regions (Head, Face, Chest, Abdomen, Extremities including Pelvis
and External). Only the highest AIS score in each body region was used. The three
most severely injured body regions have their score squared and added together to
produce the ISS score. These studies revealed that the injury mechanism of stabbing
was primarily blood loss and associated complications, or punctures to the chest
leading to respiratory failure. All these studies revealed that fatalities from stabbing
are in the majority of cases due to chest injuries. However, the saving of abdomen
was also important. To understand the depth of penetration required in order to cause
damage to vital organs and arteries by stabbing, a study [6] was carried out on 71
subjects. Under this whole body, computer tomography scan was used to determine
skin to organ distances. It was observed that the distance of vital organs from skin
surface was approximately 10 mm whilst median distances were of the order of
20 mm. An ultrasonic study was also conducted on 25 subjects on different postures.
The postures select were erect, supine and bent forward at the waist at 45°. The
effect of breathing cycles on the ultrasound scan was also studied. It was observed
that the changing posture and breathing cycle changed position of internal organs up
to 80 mm. However, in the case of erect posture with fully breathing cycle, the lower
edges of organs such as kidneys and liver were typically 100 mm below the bottom of
the rib. It indicated that the body protectors on the torso should extend at the length to
protect these organs for serious injuries. Various types of fabric structures were tried
[7–12] to make fabric stab, cut and impact resistant. Making fabric stab, cut or impact
resistant, role of selecting suitable fibre was paramount [13]. In 1960s, high-strength
and high-modulus fibres such as aramid, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
and Polybenzoxazole (PBO) were developed. When these fibres were used in the
fabric, fabric became very strong, with increased ballistic penetration resistance
while still maintaining their flexibility. Fabric weave, structural parameters, yarn
crimps, etc., also played an important role for getting high-performance fabric out of
these fibres. Besides, Shear Thickening Fluid (STF) was also tried [14, 15] to make
stab-resistant fabric.
Although numbers of studies were carried out to improve the quality of current
body protectors to meet various conventional requirements, still there is a need to
further improve its quality considering some newly added threats during riots. It is
also required to make it lighter in weight without affecting its quality as it is meant
for, so the wearer can walk or run easily. In this study to understand the actual
requirement of wearers, a survey is carried out using well-designed questionnaire.
In second study, present body protectors were procured from users and industry and
tested for stab and impact properties. Finally, to improve upon the stab and impact
resistance properties of body protector, various polymeric materials are tried.
M. S. Parmar et al.
injury to the abdomen and 29 injuries to the chest. Researchers [5, 6] studied on
the victims of stab injury in a hospital emergency admission and observed medical
consequences of stabbing. On the basis of the study, they suggested requirement
of suitable body armour for police personnel. In this study, wounds were analyzed
using Injury Severity Score System. The Injury Severity Score (ISS) is an anatomical
scoring system that provides an overall score for patients with multiple injuries. Each
injury was assigned an Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) score and was allocated to
one of six body regions (Head, Face, Chest, Abdomen, Extremities including Pelvis
and External). Only the highest AIS score in each body region was used. The three
most severely injured body regions have their score squared and added together to
produce the ISS score. These studies revealed that the injury mechanism of stabbing
was primarily blood loss and associated complications, or punctures to the chest
leading to respiratory failure. All these studies revealed that fatalities from stabbing
are in the majority of cases due to chest injuries. However, the saving of abdomen
was also important. To understand the depth of penetration required in order to cause
damage to vital organs and arteries by stabbing, a study [6] was carried out on 71
subjects. Under this whole body, computer tomography scan was used to determine
skin to organ distances. It was observed that the distance of vital organs from skin
surface was approximately 10 mm whilst median distances were of the order of
20 mm. An ultrasonic study was also conducted on 25 subjects on different postures.
The postures select were erect, supine and bent forward at the waist at 45°. The
effect of breathing cycles on the ultrasound scan was also studied. It was observed
that the changing posture and breathing cycle changed position of internal organs up
to 80 mm. However, in the case of erect posture with fully breathing cycle, the lower
edges of organs such as kidneys and liver were typically 100 mm below the bottom of
the rib. It indicated that the body protectors on the torso should extend at the length to
protect these organs for serious injuries. Various types of fabric structures were tried
[7–12] to make fabric stab, cut and impact resistant. Making fabric stab, cut or impact
resistant, role of selecting suitable fibre was paramount [13]. In 1960s, high-strength
and high-modulus fibres such as aramid, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
and Polybenzoxazole (PBO) were developed. When these fibres were used in the
fabric, fabric became very strong, with increased ballistic penetration resistance
while still maintaining their flexibility. Fabric weave, structural parameters, yarn
crimps, etc., also played an important role for getting high-performance fabric out of
these fibres. Besides, Shear Thickening Fluid (STF) was also tried [14, 15] to make
stab-resistant fabric.
Although numbers of studies were carried out to improve the quality of current
body protectors to meet various conventional requirements, still there is a need to
further improve its quality considering some newly added threats during riots. It is
also required to make it lighter in weight without affecting its quality as it is meant
for, so the wearer can walk or run easily. In this study to understand the actual
requirement of wearers, a survey is carried out using well-designed questionnaire.
In second study, present body protectors were procured from users and industry and
tested for stab and impact properties. Finally, to improve upon the stab and impact
resistance properties of body protector, various polymeric materials are tried.