An Oklahoma company has developed a kind of protective blanket for students to drape over themselves (actually, strap onto their backs) in places where underground tornado shelters are not available at the school site.

It uses a lightweight, high density type of plastic to act like ballistic armor against flying debris as well as to help cushion blunt force trauma.

This is one article about it. No photos of the product in this article. Not cheap at $1,000 per blanket, but still cheaper than constructing a proper tornado shelter big enough for the entire student body.

I hate to say it, but considering the crazy world we live in nowadays, its ballistic qualities could also probably help in an active shooter situation in a school to buy some time. The article mentions that the blanket performs to Class IIIA level although not sure that was an official DOJ test they mention.

Didn't Mythbusters do something like that??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ2vGUXhNSY

Manufacturer website: bodyguardblanket.com

If I see any bright red kites flying around in the next tornado, as least now I'll know what they are.



http://www.bodyguardblanket.com/pages/bgourcompany.html

It's March 32, right?

Roofs, walls, furniture - I don't see how these prevent crush injuries which are the major cause of injuries and deaths in tornados. Bite the fiscal bullet and build the d*mn shelters...

second the motion....the blanket is an imperfect solution.

Given 15 minutes of thought, we could probably come up with a much cheaper solution using something more common or multi-use.

Imperfect? I would go a bit further. This is a perfect solution to separate taxpayers from their money for absolutely NO gain.

Tornado protection? How is a tiny blanket going to protect someone and stay in place when the wind is is strong enough to blow furniture around?

Ballistic protection? Isn't using a bright red blanket a little like waving a bright object in front of a raging bull?

The "crazy world" we live in is one in which snake oil is purchased by those who should know better. "Think about the children"???

From the picture, it looks like the students would be better off climbing into their lockers.