The Christmas season is supposed to bring joy, cheer, comfort, and goodwill toward others. But we know from experience that's not always the case. The holidays are also when people intent on doing harm believe they can catch others off guard.

So, how can you prepare yourself and your loved ones against such threats this holiday season? We thought we'd put together a short guide on Christmas season safety tips for our readers. Read on, and we'll show you why civilian body armor is crucial to your overall safety plan.

The Threat of Violence Heightened Throughout the Winter

The threat of violence during the holiday season is enough that the FBI, DHS, and NCTC (National Counterterrorism Center) issued a public service announcement to highlight potential terrorist threats in the United States during the winter season.

The agencies “assess that ongoing tensions related to the conflict between Israel and HAMAS likely heighten the threat of lone actor violence targeting large public gatherings throughout the winter, including holiday-related, faith-based, New Year's Eve, and First Amendment protected events related to the conflict.”

In the past, we've advocated for having safety plans for church, home, and school. While each plan looks slightly different, many of the same principles apply. Let's talk about a safety plan for being in public during the holiday season.

Your Holiday Safety Plan

Having a suitable holiday safety plan means taking several steps in advance. Ideally, you'll think this through before the holiday season. But now is always better than never. You'll want to develop awareness of your potential threats, prepare as best you can for them, and determine the best action to take.

Let’s ask ourselves the necessary questions in each of these areas.

Awareness

• What are the potential threats I could face when I enter the environment?
• When I’m in this environment, does anything/anyone look out of place or suspicious?
• What first responder resources are available?
• Where are my escape routes?

Remember: Awareness isn't something you do once and then let up. Your goal should be consistent, relaxed awareness until you identify a potential threat.

Preparation

• With my knowledge of potential threats, what tools should I carry?
  • Concealable body armor
  • Firearm
  • Ammunition
  • Knife
  • Pepper spray
  • Flashlight
  • Tourniquet
  • IFAK/tactical medical kit

Remember: You can't prepare for every possible threat out there, but you can prepare for the most likely and deadly threats. Also, be sure to consult your state laws regarding weapons and body armor.

Action

• What is the best course of action for responding to a given threat?
• Is the threat I've identified the only one, or could there be multiple?
• Are there first responders available in the area?
• What do the surroundings and backdrop look like?
• Should I engage the threat or attempt to escape?

Remember: Your goal is not to perform heroics but to defend innocent life. Your priority should be to get the proper authorities involved as early as possible.

Concealable Body Armor Options

You may be wondering how to discreetly wear body armor in public during the hustle and bustle of holiday shopping and celebrations. Spartan Armor Systems offers several options for lowkey protection.

1.     Spartan Armor Systems™ Flex Fused Core™ IIIA Soft Body Armor and Spartan DL Concealment Plate Carrier

When you want level IIIA protection while maintaining a low profile, the Spartan DL Concealment carrier is an excellent choice. The winter makes it even easier to conceal under a jacket or other bulky layers. Another benefit of this carrier is the space for two pistol magazines on either side.

2.     Lightweight Armis IIIA Hard Body Armor and Spartan DL Concealment Plate Carrier

This version of the DL Concealment package provides the same level of protection as the first but with hard plates weighing only 1.5 pounds per plate. The main benefit of this package is that these are combination threat level plates, meaning they both are stab-resistant and bullet-resistant.

3.     Ghost Concealment Shirt with Flex Fused Core Level IIIA Soft Armor Panels

Lastly, our Ghost Concealment Shirt package gives the same IIIA protection as both DL Concealment packages. But the remarkable thing about the Ghost shirt is the inclusion of side armor panels, which are unavailable in the DL Concealment packages. Even with four zones of protection, the Ghost shirt is comfortable to wear for extended periods.

Conclusion

Having a safety plan in place this holiday season will do two main things.

1. It will prepare you to deal with actual threats if they arise, mitigating the risk of injury and death for you and others.
2. It will equip you to enjoy the holidays with peace and confidence, giving you an increased sense of security.

There are many worthwhile tools to carry as part of your overall safety plan. But body armor is among the most important. Thankfully, we now live in a time when body armor for civilians is not only available, but also affordable and concealable.

At Spartan Armor Systems, we’re happy to play a leading role in providing lifesaving tools to you with next-day shipping. We hope these holiday safety tips help keep you and your family safe this season