Paintball Safety Rules For All

Just like any other sport, paintball can become risky if the players do not respect some basic safety regulations. The most basic rule is always wear a mask and especially do not remove it in the dead zone if the dead zone is within the range of the field. Another important rule is never play paintball if you are under the influence of illegal drugs, prescription medicine and/or alcohol.

In paintball, blind firing is prohibited so never fire if you do not know what you are firing at. Blind firing usually leads to accidentally shoot players who are leaving the field, referees and so on. A close-range shot is in most cases more painful in comparison to shots made from a greater distance that is why it is customary to offer surrender to any opposing player within 20ft.

Regarding velocity, keep them under 280 feet per second (FPS). The gun speeds can be timed by using a paintball chronograph which should be carefully monitored. A regular paintball that travels at the speed of 280 FPS can cause small bruises while above 280 FPS paintballs can cause severe welts as well as broken skin.

When masks are not worn, all of the paintball guns must be blocked with a barrel plug or a barrel sock. Safeties are good and should be used but in most cases they fail or they are not properly used. The golden rule of paintball is common sense as most of the problems can be avoided by using common sense:

1. Do not shoot private property;
2. Do not shoot out of a moving vehicle;
3. Do not look down the barrel of a loaded gun;
4. Do not shoot yourself;
5. Never improvise.

With the risk of repeating, never remove your mask until the game is over. 99% of the injuries occur for this reason that is why it is imperative to keep the mask on at all times during the game. To sum up all of the rules:
Paintball Gun:

1. At all times, handle the paintball gun as if it is loaded;
2. Never shoot a player who is within the 20ft range;
3. Keep the velocity under 280 FPS;
4. Use a barrel sleeve or plug while not in play;
5. Never look down a barrel.

Equipment:

1. Wear the facemask at all times;
2. Only professional air smith should tamper with any modifications to your air-delivery system;
3. Wear clothing that covers as much skin as possible;
4. Never modify a rental equipment;

Participating:

1. Do not verbally abuse other players;
2. Any player without a mask should not be shot;
3. When another player is within a 15ft range you should give a verbal command to surrender;
4. No blind shooting;

As you can see, these are not hard to follow rules and with basic common sense, unfortunate accidents can be avoided and will allow paintball players to have a lot of fun playing safe. Keep it safe and have the time of your life!

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Paintball Guns and Safety

When people think about paintball guns and safety, they usually consider proper gear, such as protective eye gear. Protective eye gear and armor are just a part of safety measures to consider.

When a player becomes aware of everything that is involved with complete safety they quickly learn that it is far more involved than the gear the player wears on their body. Safety is an ongoing commitment for all players involved.

Some things to considering when playing paintball; face and eye protection, body protection, the paintball gun's velocity, barrel plugs and barrel socks.

In order to protect the eyes players should wear goggles or a mask. Eye protection or the mask will protect the face and eyes from the impact of a paintball. Paintball guns are capable of hitting their target at a velocity of 265 to 300 feet per second. This means that the face and especially the eyes should be protected. There are players that will shoot with the velocity of above regulated limit. Competitors do not always know that they are shooting above the limit. A chronograph should be used to measure the speed at which the players are firing. Shooting at a velocity that is too high can cause injury.

Goggles come in many different shapes and sizes. Some face gear is designed to cover the face while others are designed to cover the ears and neck. When choosing headgear, it is important that it protects the eyes and the face. The protective headgear should fit properly to ensure the best safety.

When shopping for goggles, consumers will find that some have a single-pane and some are double-pane. The single pane tends to fog up, tempting the wearer to occasionally remove the eye protection to see better. Double-pain goggles will help reduce fogging and keep the player from being tempted to remove them from the face to see better.

Wearing goggles during game play is one of the most important requirements, but not the only one.

Body protection is also a consideration. Body protection can cover the chest, back, neck, hands and head.

Consider a barrel plug or a barrel sock. These devices are designed to prevent paintballs from exiting the barrel accidentally. Barrel plugs and barrel socks should be used any time the player is not playing.

Paintball guns have safety mechanisms to prevent accidental gun firing. Individuals should always have their safety on when they are not playing.

Adding extra safety precaution never hurts. Using the safety on your equipment along with barrel plugs and barrel socks will help reduce the chance of misfire.

Referees are used in game play to enforce safety and to make sure that the game is played fairly by all. Referee's can also be responsible for making sure that players gun velocity is not too high.

When learning about safe game play, it is always best to lead by example. When players lead by example, other players look up to them.

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