When should the vest be worn?

• A. Any incident involving violent activity
• B. Only outdoors
• C. Only indoors
• D. During routine patrols

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that protection should be worn whenever there is a potential for violent activity. A vest provides essential torso protection, so it should be donned any time you’re dealing with a scene where violence could occur. Violence isn’t confined to indoors or outdoors, and it isn’t limited to routine patrols, so relying on location or routine duties to determine if the vest is needed leaves you exposed. Put the vest on early—as you arrive or during the initial size-up—and keep it on as long as there’s a threat of violence, pairing it with other PPE as the situation requires.