EDMOND, OKla. – The Sandy Hook school massacre was a wake up call for Steve Walker. The father of two elementary school students, Steve wanted to protect his boys from a dangerous classroom intruder.
“We wanted our children to have a layer of protection immediately,” he said.
It took him a year to design, create and now market the “Bodyguard Blanket.” It’s made from the same material protecting police officers and our soldiers in Afghanistan.
“They can be stored in the classroom and when seconds count, they can be easily applied,” he said.
Kids put them on just like a backpack with head-to-toe defense.
“If it [a bullet] hits you anywhere on the body, it’ll hurt you. But it’s not going to kill you,” managing partner Stan Schone said. “As the students put them on and line up in the hallway, they develop a shield like the Romans and Greeks used to lock together, so it gives them added protection.”
Developers said it’s not just for protection from a deranged gunman.
They believe the “Bodyguard Blanket” can also deflect Mother Nature.
Children can quickly strap on the blanket and shield themselves from flying tornado debris.
“It won’t save every life. We would never say this is better than a tornado shelter,” Walker said. “But we do believe we’ve developed the next best option.”
With school districts navigating the line between budget reality and children’s safety, the “Bodyguard Blanket” may be one solution, when human nature or Mother Nature turn deadly.
Right now, the price is just under $1,000 per blanket. However, the company hopes to offer discounts for larger orders for school districts
Source: KFOR
