VANGUARD HELMET
4 months | 2024
Designed for front-line activism, the Vanguard Helmet allows protesters to stop the spread of tear gas canisters and maintain personal headgear.
“When states respond violently to assemblies by using crowd-control weapons, they escalate tension and create panic that can lead to long-lasting psychological traumas, serious injuries, disabilities and even death.”
More than 119,000 people have been injured by tear gas and other chemical irritants during protests since 2015. (ACLU.org)
It can be delivered via grenade or canister
Its health effects depend of type, dose, and exposure conditions
Symptoms can last 30 minutes to 1 hour, be prolonged for 1-2 days, and may lead to long term injuries and disabilities
THE TRUTH ABOUT TEAR CAS CANISTERS
Survey of 2257 adults from Portland, OR from July-August 2020 (National Library of Medicine)
Solutions for Protesters vs. Tear Gas Canisters
NEUTRALIZE THE THREAT
The final design is a 2 in 1 helmet, with an outer helmet that detaches so protesters can entrap tear gas canisters to prevent its chemicals from harming more people.
An inner helmet remains in place to maintain head safety for protesters & prevent injury.
Unbuckle outer helmet
Tuck away buckles (safer to be done after step 3)
Entrap tear gas canister to prevent it from harming more people, while also maintaining personal head protection & safety.
