In the fields of policing, corrections, and security services, the need for effective personal protective equipment (PPE) is paramount. Among the various tools at their disposal, spit hoods have gained attention as an effective measure to prevent the spread of diseases and bloodborne pathogens. Over the past decade, due to media activism, the use of spit hoods has become controversial. I aim to explain the positive uses of spit hoods in these contexts, focusing on their potential benefits in safeguarding the health and safety of law enforcement officers, corrections personnel, and security personnel.
The Challenge at Hand
Law enforcement officers, corrections personnel, and security services face numerous risks during their daily operations. Confrontations with violent individuals can lead to the exposure of bodily fluids, including saliva, blood, and mucus. These fluids can carry a wide range of diseases, from common respiratory infections to more serious bloodborne pathogens such as HIV or hepatitis. Given the potential health risks associated with exposure to these bodily fluids, it is crucial to find effective preventive measures.
The Role of Spit Hoods
Spit hoods, also known as mesh hoods, spit masks, or restraint masks, are designed to cover an individual's head, preventing them from spitting, biting, or throwing harmful substances at others. While primarily used to protect officers and personnel, spit hoods also minimize the chances of exposure to infectious diseases and bloodborne pathogens. Here are some of the positive uses and benefits of incorporating spit hoods into the toolkit of law enforcement, corrections, and security services:
Disease Prevention: Spit hoods act as a barrier, effectively reducing the risk of infectious diseases spreading from an individual to law enforcement officers, corrections personnel, or security staff. By preventing direct contact with saliva or other bodily fluids, spit hoods help mitigate the transmission of common respiratory infections and bloodborne pathogens. Unlike individual use masks, they are only used on the offender, not the potential victims.
Enhanced Officer Safety: When faced with combative or aggressive individuals, officers and personnel are at risk of being bitten or spat on. Such incidents not only pose an immediate physical threat but also increase the likelihood of exposure to diseases. Spit hoods provide an additional layer of protection, reducing the risk of injuries and infections.
Safeguarding Public Health: In situations where individuals are restrained or detained, spit hoods help ensure the safety of the broader community. By minimizing the chances of an infected individual spitting or coughing on others, these hoods contribute to preventing the spread of diseases within police stations, correctional facilities, or public spaces.
Maintaining Human Rights: When used responsibly and in accordance with established guidelines and protocols, spit hoods are an effective tool that balances the need for personal safety and the preservation of human rights. By preventing physical contact, spit hoods reduce the need for more forceful interventions, such as physical restraints or the use of Tasers.
Training and Standardisation: The positive use of spit hoods lies not only in their physical application but also in training programs and standardization efforts. Proper training ensures that officers, corrections personnel, and security staff understand when and how to use spit hoods appropriately, reducing the risk of misuse or unnecessary application.
The role of media activism to empower moral exhibitionists and virtue signallers who seek to associate the effective PPE equipment of spit hoods with a torture device is for several reasons, though it is important to note that their motivations can vary among individuals.
Emotional Appeals: Some individuals may employ emotionally charged language and comparisons to evoke strong reactions from others. By associating spit hoods with a torture device, they aim to elicit feelings of outrage, empathy, or concern, hoping to sway public opinion against their use. An effective weapon to gain financial gain and funding is through divisive campaigns.
Symbolic Messaging: Moral exhibitionists often utilize symbolic messaging to communicate their values and align themselves with perceived social justice causes. By equating spit hoods with torture devices, they seek to position themselves as champions of human rights and defenders of vulnerable populations. Through words and no requirement of proven action they can elevate their positions in society.
Moral Superiority: Virtue signallers often engage in such associations to establish their own moral superiority over those they perceive as supporting or using spit hoods. They may believe that by linking this PPE equipment to a torture device, they can castigate others as morally deficient or unconcerned about human suffering. Bullying others seems to be a prerequisite for those who seek to demonise others, for political or financial gain.
Advocacy for Alternatives: Some individuals may oppose the use of spit hoods and wish to promote alternative methods for addressing the challenges faced by law enforcement, corrections, and security services. By emphasizing the negative connotations associated with torture devices, they hope to stimulate discussions around non-physical interventions or de-escalation techniques. Look how many taxpayer funded NGO's have sprouted over access to grants on a range of ineffective "solutions" and "fixes" for individual behaviour.
Influencing Policy and Public Opinion: By framing spit hoods as torture devices, moral exhibitionists and virtue signallers aim to shape public opinion and influence policy decisions. They seek to garner support for banning or severely restricting the use of spit hoods by capitalizing on the strong negative associations tied to torture. Using the creation of new laws, to distract from the publics anger and need for retribution against the offenders, criminals and murderers these Moral exhibitionists seek to represent.
It is important to recognize that while some individuals may engage in genuine activism and advocacy, many employ these tactics to gain attention, virtue signal, or project a sense of moral superiority without fully considering the practicalities or complexities of the issues at hand. Understanding the various motivations behind these associations allows for a more nuanced examination of the subject matter. The use of funding tied to many of these organisations seeks to promote an ever-increasing group of criminal advocates who take no responsibility or accountability for the actions they themselves take. The media are financially rewarded by the division of the community through sales and clicks and they will promote the most despicable of ideas as virtuous to gain any form of recognition, income, and significance they can. The Local News Media could be accused of trolling with its front page headlines, yet considering its lack of historical credibility, that would be a compliment. From the author.
The opinions and statements are those of Sam Wilks and do not necessarily represent whom Sam Consults or contracts to. Sam Wilks is a skilled and experienced Security Consultant with almost 3 decades of expertise in the fields of Real estate, Security, and the hospitality/gaming industry. His knowledge and practical experience have made him a valuable asset to many organizations looking to enhance their security measures and provide a safe and secure environment for their clients and staff.
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