OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma company has developed a protective blanket that could give children a better opportunity to survive tornadic debris or a 9 mm bullet.
The Bodyguard Blanket, made by ProTecht, is a bulletproof pad designed to protect students during disasters at school. The 5/16-inch thick rectangle features backpack-like straps that allow users to don it, and then duck and cover.
The Oklahoman reports that the pad was developed by Steve Walker, a podiatrist in Edmond. Walker began developing the idea after a massive tornado struck Moore last year, killing seven children in an elementary school with no tornado shelter.
The protective pad uses Dyneema, a high-density plastic used for ballistic armor that is lighter than Kevlar. The material also protects against sharp objects, like nails and shards of metal.