Those who want to start playing paintball anew and don’t know much about it, have doubts in their mind that this game is dangerous for us or they may be at risk of some kind of injury from it. So today we will talk in depth about this suspicion and try to remove it and how to protect any part of our body that may be endangered.
The common cause of most of these cases is that the players do not follow the rules and enthusiastically remove the safety equipment on the field. However, it is suggested that even if you are out of the game, keep wearing all the equipment especially the mask till you leave the field.
According to the National Injury Information Clearinghouse, which, after taking all precautions, successfully declared that paintball is a safer sport, even stating that paintball is safer than any other indoor or outdoor sport.
- Is Paintball a Safe Sport?
- Paintball Injuries Authentic Researched Data
- Some Serious Injuries
- How To Stay Safe And Enjoy The Game
- Tips for Safe Play
- How Safe is Paintball Compared to Other Sports
- What Does Getting Shot with a Paintball Feel Like
- Checklist to Avoid Paintball Accidents
- Frequently Ask Questions
Is Paintball a Safe Sport?
According to our research and field experience, we have definitely found this game safe, it just requires following the rules completely. Its safety rules are not very strict and can be easily followed. You need to be careful walking and running on trees or other irregular surfaces so as not to get hurt by falling, otherwise there is no harm of paintballs.
Some of the protective equipment you should wear at all times to protect your weak parts are: Paintball Mask, Marker, Hopper, Barrel Cover, Cloth etc. The most important thing is the mask that is used to protect our eyes and head as most of the shoots are directly hit to these parts which is why they need to be covered.
Paintball Injuries Authentic Researched Data
We now present to you some authoritative data which will further clarify the question “Is paintball dangerous or safe”?
According to the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project United States (HUCP-US) calculation chart, they found only 609 cases of paintball in their emergency department.
According to the United States Injury Prevention Report, they received 11988 minor paintball cases in 4 years, of which 95% were quickly cured.
If you are interested in it and want to become an expert then this proportion can be eliminated by using the paintball kit properly and following the rules.
Some Serious Injuries
Since injuries are a part of every sport, players use safe kits when playing, the biggest example of which is cricket where the chances of getting injured are highest but still its popularity is higher than all other sports. Here we will mention injuries caused by paintball and also highlight the importance of protective equipment. Some common injuries are following:
Eye Injuries
Paintballs hit our eyes directly, causing serious problems such as vision impairment or permanent vision loss, which is why we always force you not to put your mask down when you are on the field.
Ear Injuries
The ear is also a very prominent part of our face which is prone to collision of paint balls on both sides which we have to compensate for in case of diseases like tinnitus, permanent or partial hearing loss, or even concussion.
Breathing
We need to wear masks all the time which interferes with our normal breathing, especially for those who smoke in their daily life. Running also makes it difficult for them to breathe.
Psychological Injuries
Paintball also affects our psychological conditions when our body gets hit from it. Irregular and aggressive opponents can easily intimidate new players, which can lead to a lot of stress and anxiety, which can lead to many health problems.
Physical Dangers of Paintball
We have explained many times that every part of the body should be covered whether it is strong or weak. Bony areas can withstand paintball injuries but may remain scarred Whereas delicate areas require more care and are more prone to damage.
Psychological Injuries from Paintball
When something is belonging to danger or competitions then it can cause psychological terror like same for when the paintbal hit you, a number of responses generated from your body.
We can add to that a person’s personal history with firearms or combat and running into a battlefield with a paintball gun can trigger an emotional response. Everything is going sharp and noise maker firing can discourage you.
Furthermore, aggressive and long lasting paintball players can easily spook the new players which causes a lot of stress and anxiety and lead to health problems.
Smokers and Paintball
It is important to fit yourself for playing a paintball game otherwise you will get a hazardous injury. Paintball games require run, jump,climb, pass through the enemies area, falling from the height, crashing and these lead to a lot of problems for the players.
Those people who are smoking paintball can put a bad on their body. Usually smokers face tough times for breathing, running and while playing paintball games require to wear a paintball mask and run in the field but for smokers these things are difficult.
Simply, we can say that smokers are easy to target. To play a game they need to put a great deal of stress on their body to compete as the same as other players do which causes an unhygienic disease for their life.
How To Stay Safe And Enjoy The Game
Games are a great source of happiness only when you play safely and follow all the rules that lead you to success and make you an expert. Now we learn what principles and equipment you need to adopt to be safe from dangers and enjoy your game instead of getting hurt.
Safety Equipments
Here is a list of the tools that keep us safe from injuries.
Paintball Mask
Everyone knows the importance of a mask because it works well to protect your eyes, ears, nose and other sensitive parts, if they are not protected there is a risk of serious injuries. Taking off your mask on the field is the biggest mistake most people make and then they face bad consequences in various forms.
There are different types of masks for special people, such as masks for glass wearers, 360 coverage masks for kids, anti-fog masks, and much more, everyone can choose according to their needs.
Gun or Marker
The marker is another essential tool for survival in the paintball game, without it you are nothing, how can you defend or compete?
There are some rules for its use that must be followed
Disassembling of CO2 Tanks
Disassembling the CO2 tank is not an easy task, especially if you are new or a kid, do not do it alone or it will seriously affect your physical health. There are many such issues that have seriously affected people’s health.
Clothing
Tips for Safe Play
Keep Your Wits About You
When walking around the field, especially if it is as big as a fun ball, be aware of your surroundings, so that you do not hit a tree or a hike or anything and fall off a hill or obstacle.
Surrender
It is good to surrender when someone is very close to you and calls you, if you do not do so you will be hit and the chances of injury from hitting so close are high.
Stay on Your Feet
Beware of crawling towards opponents as the top of your head will be exposed where the mask does not cover, or always use a full head paintball mask.
Also Read : https://truepaintballer.com/tips-to-play-paintball-in-rain/
How Safe is Paintball Compared to Other Sports
Here we will compare paintball with other sports and find out which sport is safer.
I did a study from an authoritative source that clearly stated that only 0.2% (200) injuries occur for every 100,000 paintball players and 3.8% (3800) injuries for every 100,000 American football tackles.
If we compare paintball to mainstream sports like ice hockey, soccer and baseball, the injury rate is 3.7%, 2.8% and 2.8% respectively, which is higher than paintball.
As Per (RoSPA) Royal Society for Accident Prevention data, only 923 people UK accident and emergency room admissions due to paintball accidents in 2002, almost half (47%) were to the knee, ankle or foot injuries.
What Does Getting Shot with a Paintball Feel Like
There’s no question that paintballs hurt, the severity depends on a few factors, such as where you were hit, what cover you were wearing, and how fast the paintball was moving. Some strokes cause painful injuries and stress, so it’s best to minimize this by taking a few safety precautions.
Paintballs can hurt you, and you’ll know right away when they hit you. If you are in close quarters, it can be accompanied by many other shots. Many times these hits cause mild pain and go away after a while.
Getting Hit During Rec Ball
For many, hitting 50 yards during a recreational game won’t be noticeable until the paint is cracked.
Getting Hit During Speed Ball
If you have ever experienced speedball, you are well aware that its rate of fire exceeds that of recreational balls. The risk of being shot indoors is also high. If you play this game mode, you might have been playing the game for a while. Beginners generally start with a recreational ball. This means that once you start playing speedball, you will probably get used to hitting.
Getting Hit on Bare Skin
Hitting bare skin with paintballs is dangerous and can cause a lot of pain and bleeding. If the paintball bounces off you and doesn’t break, it will do a lot of damage.
Getting Hit with Different Gun Types
There are 3 main types of guns you can shoot with:
Normal 68 Caliber: Feels like hitting a wet bath towel.
50 caliber or less Impact: Feels like being hit by a wet hand towel.
50 Caliber Spring Loaded Guns: Feels like hitting a washcloth.
Checklist to Avoid Paintball Accidents
- You must meet the age requirements of the paintball area you are playing in.
- Follow all laws and safety instructions, be respectful of others.
- Observe and follow the instructions of the referee.
- You must have all the necessary equipment.
- Wear an anti-fog paintball mask that fits your size, so you don’t have to take it off during play for any reason.
- Use a barrel sock on your paintball gun when you’re not playing.
- Wear all protective gear including gloves, guard, vest, shoes, mask, etc.
- Don’t disassemble the air tank if you don’t know how to do it.
- Conduct a pregame safety orientation for participants, including equipment use, field layout, and safety rules.
- Wear ANSI approved safety glasses and other protective gear.
Frequently Ask Questions
Yes, paintball is safe for ages 12 and under provided they follow safety guidelines and referee instructions. Many areas have age requirements for paintball, so check the laws in your area. An alternative activity for younger players is low-impact paintball.
Yes, every sport, including paintball, can cause minor or major injuries if you don’t follow safety rules.
If you get hit by a paintball in the eye, you will be rushed to the emergency room for treatment, and can cause severe vision loss or even blindness.
A 29-year-old man died of a stroke days after being hit by a paintball gun, and it is not known whether the stroke was caused by the paintball. A child died of severe internal liver bleeding after being hit repeatedly by paintballs in the same spot.
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Jessica
Hey everyone, this is Jessica here. I live in London, United Kingdom and I am passionate about the paintball game and I also love researching and buying different paintball masks. In Fact I may have a tackle addition that is a deep part of why I created this site, as you hear “ is a healthier and more affordable outlet ”