"So it really is designed to be aimed in a ricochet manner, directed at a non-critical area—the upper leg, thigh, or around someone’s hip," he says. Still, rubber bullets are being used widely by law enforcement to subdue often peaceful protesters in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis. According to the PHR/INCLO report, rubber bullets are one of a category of weapons called kinetic impact projectiles (KIPs), says Ian Wittman, MD, chief of emergency medicine at NYU Langone Hospital–Brooklyn. It could have hurt all of my throat, could have been prone to more blood clots, could have been a lot worse.” Maurer is one of several reporting they were hit with rubber bullets on Monday night. That last method of less-lethal force—rubber bullets—may sound innocuous (or at least less threatening than "real" bullets). Here's hoping that you don't have to follow his advice, but it's here for you in the unfortunate case that you do. Rubber bullets are less harmful than subduing people by “physical force or regular bullets, Mell said. You see, rubber bullets are intended to be fired at the ground first, and then hit a person to modify the behavior that was of concern to the law enforcement officer, says Goodloe. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io, Check Out This Record-Setting Mini Brick Build, Call Your Doctor If You Have Any Of These Symptoms, A Doctor Explained Conor McGregor's 'Dead Leg', Arnold Warns Anti-Vaxxers About Misinformation, Al Roker Gets First Dose of COVID-19 Vaccine, Watch Arnold Schwarzenegger Get His COVID Vaccine, What Your Poop Smell Tells You About Your Health, All the COVID-19 Vaccine Side Effects, Explained. Law enforcement professionals use them to disperse crowds while, in theory, minimizing harm. “A direct hit by a rubber bullet may crack a rib or inflict a very painful tissue bruise. Rubber bullets, one of the most common crowd-control munitions, are more than four times the diameter of typical bullets and weigh more than five times as much. In total, the studies encompasses 1,984 people who had been hurt by projectiles, including rubber or plastic bullets, polyurethane bullets with a hollow nose known as … One of the most common rounds of rubber bullets are 12-gauge rubber bullet rounds. What to Do if You're Hit by a Police Baton, What to Do Immediately if You're Pepper Sprayed, What to Do if Squats Make Your Knees Hurt, A Former Opioid Addict Tests CBD for Pain Control. Amanda Gardner is a freelance health reporter whose stories have appeared in cnn.com, health.com, cnn.com, WebMD, HealthDay, Self Magazine, the New York Daily News, Teachers & Writers Magazine, the Foreign Service Journal, AmeriQuests (Vanderbilt University) and others. Chile is one country that has tamped down on the use of rubber bullets. Going home." ("Less-lethal," an emergent term and more accurate term, is replacing "non-lethal."). "They are the local experts on which hospitals have which capabilities so that you can get the care you need for more specialized injuries—eye care, throat specialists, chest care. If the strike occurs to the face, it could cause permanent injuries to your vision," says Goodloe. Spurred by the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minneapolis, mass protests have clutched the nation. Other Fun Rounds. If the person is having trouble walking, help them do so, enlisting the help of another if needed. Make sure they’re engaging in that conversation and understanding what you are saying. (Ask them what year it is, what month it is, and/or who the president is, suggests Goodloe.). A direct hit by a rubber bullet may crack a rib or inflict a very painful tissue bruise. For answers, we turned to Jeffrey M. Goodloe, M.D., F.A.C.E.P., member of the Board of Directors for the American College of Emergency Physicians and Chief Medical Officer for the Emergency Medical Services System for Metropolitan Oklahoma City & Tulsa. Wearing a face shield or goggles and a helmet may “protect the most vulnerable areas of the body,” says Dr. Wittman. Oakville-based Security Devices International has been filling orders for a bullet that expands on impact, causing massive pain to subdue an individual, but … Not to mention the anxiety that often ensues from any form of violence, especially at a time like this. Going home." Unfortunately, during The Troubles of the early 1970s in Northern Ireland, the bullets were used as direct fire munitions, causing many serious wounds and some deaths. As a physician, I take care of everyone. And then there's the matter of after-care. "It's much easier and safer for EMTs and paramedics outside of the crowd," Goodloe says. If you see someone hit with a rubber bullet, what can you do to help them? This content is imported from {embed-name}. Police are using rubber bullets against protestors, but just because the bullets are rubber doesn't mean they're safe. Due to the increased pain and risk when shot at close range most riots where rubber bullets are involved usually keep at least a 50 meter distance from the policing force … Doctors should also assess you if you’ve been hit in the abdomen (you could have a bowel injury), face, and, especially, your eyes to prevent blindness. A word about Covid-19. Either way you cut it, you don’t want to be hit with a rubber bullet. According to Less Lethal Ammunition rubber bullets, they are intended to “cause pain but not serious injury” and they are a “non-lethal” alternative to regular projectiles, which we see every day. Think birdshot vs 00 buckshot. If you get shot, don’t look at the wound if at all possible. “Long pants, long sleeves are padding to absorb impact as well,” says Dr. Glatter. Rubber bullets should feel like being hit with a paintball Rubber bullets are what they sound like, though sometimes they're not completely made of rubber and instead are made of another material like steel and coated in rubber, Torradas said. That means keeping it clean, icing it (a bag of frozen vegetables works just fine, he says), taking Tylenol or ibuprofen, and monitoring it for signs of infection. So yeah, it's very unlikely you will die, but you will not be getting up any time soon. Use of rubber bullets and less-lethal rounds have surged in the Black Lives Matter protests. The shooter was a German foreign exchange student with surprisingly bad muzzle awareness, trigger safety, et cetera, but since the damage was minor we all laughed it off. She is also a community artist and recipient or partner in five National Endowment for the Arts grants. Most commonly the projectile will have a blunt head (shaped more like a rubber cork than an actual pointed bullet), be fired in the manner intended, at a distance intended. What should you do in the hours and days that follow to ensure that you're healing as well as possible? Rubber Bullets Don't Hit As Hard As One Might Think There's no doubt that rubber bullets are effective or that they will be effective, at least as far as rubber bullets as a class of projectiles. "Think about taking a golf ball to your thigh," says Goodloe. A study published in 2017 in the BMJ found that 3% of people hit by rubber bullets died of the injury. Do rubber bullets hurt? Rubber bullets when used correctly are effective deterents and keep riots contained. A Doctor Shared 6 Pandemic Mental Health Tips, Build a Bigger Chest With This Bodyweight Workout, Guys, Stop Trying to Train the Women in Your Life, Oven-Roasted Ribs Are Your Super Bowl Feast. Rubber bullets hurt like an absolute bitch. If you're hit with a rubber bullet, you will likely know you were hit with a rubber bullet. Brisk, spurting, bright-red bleeding requires more direct pressure and a tourniquet. "If the strike hits you in the anterior part of your neck, it could cause significant cutting injuries or bruising of the airway. Some people wear body armor such as a bullet-proof vest to reduce the impact, but it’s not always legal to do so. My job is to assess injuries and determine how I can best take care of them. Once the person effected is in a safe location, determine if you need to call 911 based upon that person's condition in regards to consciousness, awareness, bleeding, and other potentially dangerous circumstances. If the strike occurs in your chest, it could cause a deeper injury in chest—a broken rib, a bruised lung. Like other similar projectiles made from plastic, wax, and … But, studies show they are powerful enough to permanently maim and kill. The use of a rubber bullet is one of the more controversial crowd-control measures, says Robert Glatter, MD, an emergency physician in New York City. If there is, apply direct pressure. Different Types of Rubber Bullet Rounds. The type of damage depends on the specific ammunition used, how they’re delivered (and from what distance), how fast they travel (some travel as fast as live ammunition, according to the 2017 BMJ Open study), and other factors. If they can walk, help them to safety. Rubber bullets can also pierce your eye and cause blindness, adds Leigh Vinocur, MD, a spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians. Rubber bullets are a type of Baton round. What effects does the impact have? "If you’re just a few feet away, that’s going to hurt a lot. On the less severe end of the spectrum, they can cause bruising and pain, says Dr. Wittman. Projectiles do not usually cause an open injuries or lacerations, but they could, says Goodloe, so check for bleeding. And there have been several reports of harm, including a grandmother who ended up in intensive care after a rubber bullet struck her between the eyes. Such bullets are dangerous, the petition says, adding, "They may cause bone fractures, injuries to internal organs, or even death. This said, any changes in the variables previously mentioned—the bullet shape, distance traveled, or direction of the impact—can create more dangerous complications. Hospital evaluation might include an X-ray; if you’re hit in the leg, for example, and you’re having increasing pain and are unable to walk, says Corey Slovis, MD chairman of emergency medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, as well as medical director for the Nashville fire department and airport. “Protestors should wear masks, gloves and eye protection, keep some distance between protestors, stay outside in the open, avoid touching one’s face, try not to touch other people or objects held by others (such as signs, food, and beverages),” says Dr. Haar. If you choose to call 911, do so yourself, or ask someone else if you're unable. “The abuse of crowd-control weapons by law enforcement is compounding the trauma of George Floyd’s killing,” comments Dr. Haar. Watch the whole thing it gets better.testing of two rubber bullets on a volunteer. In an attempt to control demonstrations, law enforcement officials have turned to less-lethal weapons, such as tear gas, pepper spray, police batons, and rubber bullets. They are a less lethal alternative to metal projectiles, but can still cause serious injuries such as blindness, permanent disability, and death. We recommend our users to update the browser. And in Washington, DC, the National Guard allegedly used the bullets to clear protesters in Lafayette Square in anticipation of President Trump walking through the area. War Rages With Police! It really only hurt after I started fucking with it to stop the bleeding. Rubber Bullets Hurt John Ruffner was shot in the back with a rubber bullet at a Black Lives Matter event in Sacramento, May 30, 2020. Men's Health participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. That’s part of the oath any physician takes. “Wash or sanitize your hands as much as possible, and shower when you get home.”. There have also been reports of collapsed lungs, fractures, chest injuries, spleen, and bowel injuries, says Dr. Glatter. “They’re not always rubber.” More than 85 manufacturers around the world fashion them out of plastic, PVC, and combinations of rubber, plastic, PVC, metals such as lead and steel, wood, hard foam, and wax. Both of these outcomes—death and permanent injury—most often came from head-and-neck injuries inflicted by weapons that contained metal. He tells us about his experience. Two members of a Reuters TV crew were hit by rubber bullets and a photographer's camera was smashed in Minneapolis on Saturday night as … But, in reality, they can do serious damage. Protester got hit in the chest lung area and is bleeding by the mouth probably internal bleeding. So, how rubber bullets work is that you shoot a person with a rubber projectile. Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) have called for extreme restrictions on the use of rubber bullets, while Israel has disallowed them except in extreme circumstances and only with special approval from the chief of police, according to a 2016 report put out by PHR and the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations (INCLO). Footnotes So-called rubber bullets can be fired as a single shot or as pellets (called “shot”). "Other than for the most minor of injuries, it's always better to see a professional," says Goodloe. These rounds were originally designed to be aimed at the ground to help disperse a crowd, but when shot directly at a body, they can lead to serious injuries like cracked ribs, a fractured skull, or concussion. Ask them “Are you okay?” If that person took a projectile to the head, check to see if they are dazed, confused, and acting in a normal way. (A spokesperson for the Minneapolis Police told Kaiser Health News, that bullets fired by members of his department were “foam marking rounds,” not rubber.) we had rubber slugs and rubber buck shot to compare side by side. Rubber bullets and other KIPs are touted as non-lethal alternatives to traditional bullets and, while they may be less dangerous than traditional firearms, says Dr. Wittman, “there is absolutely a significant risk in being shot by one of these especially if the shot is at close range and in the neck and head area.”. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer), grandmother who ended up in intensive care, Physicians for Human Rights and International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations, This Is the Scientific Reason Why Couples Get Back Together After a Breakup, You Don’t Have to Be a Prepper to Love This Disaster Planning App, Here’s Why Showering During a Thunderstorm is a Terrible Idea, Do Not Sell My Personal Information – CA Residents. Warn others in the area that law enforcement officials are using rubber bullets and seek medical attention promptly. Rubber bullets and other KIPs are touted as non-lethal alternatives to traditional bullets and, while they may be less dangerous than traditional firearms, says Dr. Wittman, “there is absolutely a significant risk in being shot by one of these especially if the shot is at close range and in the neck and head area.” What does being hit with a rubber bullet feel like, exactly? Despite the name, rubber bullets typically have either a metal core with a rubber coating, or are a homogeneous admixture with rubber being a minority component. If the person took a shot to the face or neck, check to see if they're breathing okay. In the 2017 BMJ Open study, researchers found 53 of 1,984 people studied (3 percent) died from KIPs and 300 (15 percent) recovered but with permanent disabilities. Crowds also significantly increase the risk of spreading Covid-19. But rubber bullets can deliver a debilitating amount of pain and carry both immediate and potentially long-term harmful effects. In a follow-up tweet he wrote: "The rubber bullet hit stings like a mf, and is starting to hurt, talked to doctor friends, said if not having trouble breathing then ok. Internal bleeding and damage to organs are other potential injuries. Rubber bullets are flying . But they can also cause broken bones and more. What you get with a 12 gauge rubber bullet round is a shell with several rubber coated pellets. In another case, a freelance photographer reported being permanently blinded in one eye as a result of a rubber bullet. My role is not to judge someone. That last method of less-lethal force—rubber bullets—may sound innocuous (or at least less threatening than "real" bullets). Obviously a direct hit in an eye is totally damaging to the eye.” How they work. “Most commonly, rubber bullets cause contusions (bruises) and mild swelling, but they have been known to cause fractures, loss of the function of eyes (in … ", And, on that note: "We’re not there to judge what’s wrong or right. Paul is the Food & Nutrition Editor of Men’s Health. At longer ranges, their trajectories are unpredictable and indiscriminate, hitting bystanders, peaceful demonstrators in the face, head, or neck,” adds Rohini Haar, MD, a medical expert at Physicians for Human Rights, and research fellow at the Human Rights Center at UC Berkeley’s School of Law. In summary, when the unpredictability of rubber bullets meets the unpredictability of a chaotic environment, devastating effects can occur. We want to be a place of safety and refuge.". Stay home if you have symptoms or have close contact with someone who is at higher risk for getting Covid, she adds. We may earn a commission through links on our site. In 2009, she served as writer-in-residence at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. It is a 12-gauge shell that contains many rubber coated pellets. The number varies, but you can get many smaller pellets or a few larger pellets. If you are hit with one, is there anything you can do to immediately lessen the pain and effects? Hopefully, with proper coordination and clarity, help will arrive swiftly. Rubber bullets come in a number of different calibers and will typically cause a lot of bruising and some pain and discomfort for the target. While many of these protests have remained peaceful demonstrations, some have turned violent. In theory, rubber bullets are supposed to cause less harm than a “regular” bullet. 1 rubber bullets can hurt you really bad. 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