General
Q1: MOST BODY ARMOR MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY THEIR CARRIERS FOR 12 MONTHS, WHAT IS YOUR POLICY?

Q2: MOST BODY ARMOR MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY THEIR PROTECTIVE ARMOR FOR 5 YEARS, WHAT IS YOUR POLICY?

Q3: HOW DO I MEASURE FOR MY VEST?

Q4: DO YOU GUARANTEE THE FIT?

Q5: HOW SHOULD MY VEST FIT?

Returns And Alterations
Q6: WHAT IF MY VEST DOESN’T FIT PROPERLY?

Q7: HOW DO I MAINTAIN AND KEEP MY VEST IN SERVICEABLE CONDITION?

Q8: TO WHAT STANDARDS ARE SECOND CHANCE VESTS CERTIFIED?

Q9: WHAT LEVEL OF BALLISTIC PROTECTION SHOULD I CHOOSE?

A1: Second Chance believes in quality. We warranty our carriers for workmanship and material defects for 18 months. Abuse or laundry instructions not followed voids warranty.

A2: Second Chance warrants its ballistic armor for 5 years to perform as stated on the label to protect against the designated projectiles for each level. Warranty is null and void if improper care, misuse or neglect occurs.

A3: There are two ways to be fitted for a vest. You can measure yourself by following the instructions on our sizing sheets and submitting the forms to the factory where your vest size will then be determined. Or you can go to one of our many dealers. The advantage of a dealer sizing is they may be able to put a vest on you to show proper fit and make sure of maximum protection while still providing mobility.To locate a dealer near you, contact Safariland Customer Care at (800) 347-1200 or (904) 741-5400.

A4: Second Chance guarantees the custom fit of each vest for 30 days after date of purchase. We will exchange or alter your vest until a satisfactory fit is achieved.

A5: Police officers aren't dying because of bad body armor. They're dying because they don't wear it. So, first and foremost, your vest needs to be comfortable! Second Chance has found that vests generally fit best when the following principles are applied. When wearing your vest and standing up straight, the top center edge of the front panel should come right up to your clavicle notch and the bottom edge should come down to about two inches above the top of your gun belt. The front and back panels should butt together or have a slight gap. Yes, there is a trade-off. If you want your front vest panel to come right down to the top of your gunbelt when you're standing, the top of the panel could ride up against your throat when you sit down. If you want the front and back panels to overlap, you may feel a pinch or lack of mobility when trying to do certain things because the panels could bind. However, fit and vest comfort are very personal issues. To that end we would urge you to select a balance of fit, comfort and protection that allows you to wear your vest all the time while on duty. We don't want you to leave your vest at home or in your locker because it got too uncomfortable to wear, because that will be the day you need it most. IMPORTANT FITTING NOTE: Maintain your current weight. If you lose or gain more than 5% of your weight, your vest will probably no longer fit you properly.

A6: Police officers aren’t dying because of bad body armor. They’re dying because they don’t wear it. So, first and foremost, your vest has to be comfortable and fit properly. At Second Chance we feel that within 30 days you should know how your vest fits. Our customer service team can be notified and will help in anyway possible to make sure that your vest is exactly what you need.

A7: MAINTAINING THE BALLISTIC PANELS: To make sure the covers of your vest’s ballistic panels stay in top condition, it’s a good idea to clean them with a soft, damp cloth and MILD soap (DO NOT use strong detergents or bleach). Don’t get the panels wet, just give the damp cloth a chance to get the perspiration residue off, then lay them flat to dry. Do not machine wash.

To wash your carrier, remove ballistic panels and machine wash on gentle cycle or wash by hand. In either case, use only cold or warm water and very mild soap.

DO NOT use strong detergents or bleach.

Improper vest fit is the number one reason officers go through vest carriers too quickly. Watch for excessive wear along the bottom of the carrier (i.e. the vest panels are too long) and between the front and back panels (i.e. the panels are overlap and rub the fabric cover).

A8: NIJ CERTIFICATION: All Second Chance vests are NIJ certified. All test reports are on file at Second Chance or contact the National Law Enforcement Corrections Technology Center to consult their Consumer Products List.

V-50 TESTING: Second Chance also measures and records benchmark V-50 results at the time of certification. V-50 is a scientifically reproducible ballistic limit employed by the U.S. military that measures the velocity at which 50% of the projectiles are stopped by the armor. This number provides a reference point against which we can measure the performance of the armor over time.

A9: Select only the protection level that you will wear routinely. Extra protection doesn't help if it's in the trunk of the car. Each officer faces different situations, however we do recommend that your vest stop your personal service weapon, and your partner's, as many officers have been shot with their own gun.

Second Chance Armor, Inc. delivers professional, personal and complete customer service. Our commitment to the law enforcement community, along with our outstanding product, makes it easy to relate to our customers with the commitment and integrity you can always count on.

E-mail:Customercare.bodyarmor@baesystems.com