How Outer duty belts are Useful for Police Officers?
In the past, a duty belt might hold a gun, holster, and some bullets, but working belts should carry an average of 8 to 10 and sometimes 15 pounds of equipment, including a range of flashlights, keys, and handcuffs to batons, spray, and duty weapons. In short, the belts should be strong and stiff enough to support the poundage, but a police officer wearing should feel comfortable wearing them.
A belt, which is stiff and fails to fit properly, increases the officer’s safety and reduces health hazards. An ill-fitted belt can cause fatigue, sore backs, bruises, and even pinched nerves.
Like other things, an outer duty belt has also undergone considerable changes, but one thing remained the same for officers.
What is an importance of a duty belt?
The outer belt consists of a micro-adjustable belt created to ensure stability and comfort. It is made of a blend of nylon webbing with Velcro attached to the outer belt. The belt can carry almost any critical equipment, whether a flashlight, firearm, or baton, so it is there whenever you need it.
Here is the list of equipment that the belt holds:
● Baton
● Handcuffs
● Flashlight
● OS spray
● Firearm
● Razor
And many more.
The equipment that police officers carry depends on their needs and according to their duty. Some might have to carry extensive equipment while others do not have much. Officers in plain clothes might have to conceal equipment.
Features in a duty belt
Outer duty belts are generally 2.25 inches wide and created of leather. Its rectangular brass buckle can be 2 inches wide and 3 inches high. These belts place uncomfortable pressure towards the front of the pelvis and abdomen while driving or sitting for an extended period. Over the passing years, police officers might start feeling discomfort wearing duty belts. It might get worse due to the increase in time spent in vehicles. Adding additional handcuffs, radios, handguns, and spare magazines can add up to 3 to 4 pounds of the belt.
As more rigid the holster system, the more critical is its shape and location in getting a proper fit. Seats in patrolling vehicles can be another source of discomfort. Bolsters towards the side of the seats can create pressure on the radio and sidearm, which makes officers push forward, reducing the low back support.
Does duty belt causes discomfort and the Solution
Duty belt discomfort is also common health and safety issue for any uniformed police officer. Many police officers while using belts often complain of pain in the low back, hip, and pelvis areas. The pain is due to the pressure exerted toward the edge of the duty belt, holster shank, and other equipment. Furthermore, the problem also comes due to the time officers are patrolling and performing their duty behind the wheels of their patrol cars. Many belt holster system, with critical shape, fails to give a proper fit. But the micro-adjustable belts are developed for stability and comfort.
There are many alternatives to a duty belt. And one is suspenders. These are impactful in distributing the equipment weight over the shoulders and chest instead of only the waist. However, there are many safety concerns in the usage of suspenders, as these can be used against the officer in a struggle. But, opting for a new version is best, as suspenders act like a clip-on tie helping in reducing the risk of injury to the officer.
Police officers also opt for tactical vests or harnesses consisting of multiple pouches. A harness
gets over the ballistic vest and can decrease the need for officers to reach around for equipment.
The following are the main characteristics of a duty belt:
● A belt with round and padded edges towards the top and bottom is best for the body.
● Nylon belts with 2 inches width can increase officer comfort with lesser complaints.
● Duty gear made of nylon is lighter and easy to maintain in contrast to the leather gear of comparable quality.
● Leather belts with buckle closures are less adjustable than nylon belts. These have adjustment holes for the buckle 1.25 inches apart leaving the belt too tight or loose. A tight-fitting belt can be problematic, and a loose belt can create pressure on the officer’s pelvic and hip areas.
All the above aspects demand choosing the belts according to your needs. Also, ascertain that the belts are strong enough to carry your firearm, radio to cuffs and flashlight. Check out 911 Gear, it is a Canadian Law Enforcement Supplies, Corrections Supplies, and Security Supply store near Toronto Ontario. Here you will find varieties of top-quality gear, items, and supplies that come to daily use by law enforcement officers. The belt that you will find here has a polymer insert, which gives it the strength, best to support the weight of the items. For more information about the belt, read the specifications and buy visit https://www.911gear.ca/duty-belts-suspenders.
