Bomb-proof boxer shorts for Indian troops to escape IED injuries
By ANIWednesday, February 9, 2011
BANGALORE - Bomb-proof boxer shorts, which are designed to protect the private parts, besides other armour, will help reduce Indian troop casualties and prevent horrendous life changing injuries.
The improvised explosive devices, also known as IEDs, are one of the greatest risks to Indian troops. Significant amongst the injuries are those to the groin area, which is normally under protected by normal body armour.
These include blinding and blast injuries to the groin, which can result in a ruptured colon or genitalia loss. For all soldiers, such injuries are “life-changing”. They are extremely difficult to live with psychologically.
Within the periphery of a blast, perineal and femoral artery injuries can be fatal without immediate specialist medical help. A puncture to the femoral artery can lead to rapid bleeding, and cause death.
Developed by Cardiff-based firm BCB International, the 60-pound Kevlar-lined lightweight shorts, worn under normal combat gear, shield the groin from the impact of improvised explosive devices.
BCB International Ltd, the UK survival equipment specialists are now making available to Indian soldiers their award winning Blast Boxers, which are made of special comfortable Kevlar fabric. Extensive trials and ballistic tests have shown that Blast Boxers provide significant protection.
Andrew Howell, the Managing Director of BCB International, said: “Here at BCB, we continuously design and develop quality innovative products designed to help our brave servicemen and women survive in some of the most hostile and dangerous environments in the world. To help protect them against potentially life threatening and life changing injuries to the groin area from IEDs, we have developed the Blast Boxers.”
“Ballistic trials have shown that the Blast Boxers provide significant protection of the soft groin area against some of the fragments and upward blast from an IED. During the trials, the soft ballistic Kevlar remained intact and captured most of the gravel and fragments blasted at it,” he said.
“We believe that our Blast Boxers will make a real difference and help save Indian lives,” Howell added. By Praful Kumar Singh (ANI)
