From the U.S. Government Accountability Office, www.gao.gov

Title: Information on Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor Care and 
Maintenance

Description: This video discusses ballistic-resistant body armor care 
and maintenance.

Related GAO Work: GAO-12-353, Law Enforcement Body Armor: DOJ Could 
Enhance Grant Management Controls and Better Ensure Consistency in 
Grant Program Requirements

Released: February 2012

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This video is part of a GAO report: Law Enforcement Body Armor: DOJ 
Could Enhance Grant Management Controls and Better Ensure Consistency 
in Grant Program Requirements (GAO-12-353)

Information on Ballistic-Resistant Body Armor Care and Maintenance
Video provided by: The National Institute of Justice

[Background Music ] 

>> Every model of body armor should come with cleaning instructions. 
Proper cleaning and maintenance is vital to its effectiveness. 
Departments and agencies should train officers in correct cleaning 
procedures. Some removable barriers may be machine-washed or dried, 
but panels and inserts should not be. Most armor uses water-repellant 
fabrics, making hand washing possible. 

>> For the panels themselves, a warm solution, just a touch of soap—
whether it be hand soap, dishwashing liquid—just a very light touch, 
one drop, warm, wipe the panel itself down, immediately dry it off 
with a dry cloth, and let it air dry flat. Never, ever put your panels 
into a washer or dryer. 

>> Officers should watch for soap buildup, which can absorb water and 
reduce the efficiency of certain ballistic-resistant fabrics.

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This video project was supported by Award No. 2005-IJ-CX-K003 awarded 
by the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. 
Department of Justice.

Opinions, views, conclusions, or recommendations, as expressed by 
actors, interviewees, or through other depictions in this video, are 
those of the speakers/author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those 
of the Department of Justice.

Nothing in this video is intended to constitute or imply any 
endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States of any 
specific commercial entity, product, or service.