Need a little help

[Crazy]

I'm in Queensland Australia and play Xball for the CQ Carnivores, my brother inlaw is wanting to start playing tournament paintball in a 5 man format.
He is 20 and last year had a pacemaker installed in his chest.
This is obviously a concern for tournament promoters and I'm trying to get in contact with any paintballers out there who have pacemakers and what they do to protect their chest from direct hits and such?

After correlating this information and a letter from his heart specialist we hope to petition the powers that be to let him play.

This guy is so eager to play that he has his finances all set and has already picked out his entire kit for when he gets the go ahead.

Our first ideas were body armour that paintball suppliers have or a chest plate with straps to hold it in place.

Any constructive ideas are welcome.

 

[MattL]

I'm afraid I have no practical advice to offer ecept my support. Please pass on our encouragemnt from all at slothball.com in wishing him all luck. There's nothing better than serious commitment and I hope it all works out in the end. Please keep us updated on how you get on with it all.

Good effort and we hope he gets game man.

Happy Ballin'

Matt

 

[Raffles]

I got some moto-x chest protection for my son. Works great - is hard - and is legal (ie. doesn't promote bounce).

Have a look on ebay for the stuff - got my lot at half-price

 

[Tom Allen]

I was going to suggest the same chest protection, works well.

 

[JoseDominguez]

Which side is it implanted? Is it in the normal place? (2" under the collarbone).... any paintball vest would cover it, and at least in the UK the BMA advise 'no contact sport as it may damage the pacemaker'.... paintball isn't a contact sport in the true sense, and body armour would stop the pacemaker taking a hit from a paintball. Motocross armour would be ideal..... raffles is right, and all you should need is the upper rigid part of a chest protector... wouldn't even need the full vest.
Most other paintball amour is a bit softer, so I'd imagine it would be illegal in a lot of tourneys. The other option would be to get one of those tight playing undershirts (like a lycra cycling shirt)... and then get a rigid plate sewn into exactly the right place, that way it can't possible move.

 

[Crazy]

The Motheroutlaw is a bit of a seamstress and we are looking into that.

The best option so far I believe would be the motorbike armour as the heart specialist and the tournament promoters will understand what they are and their capabilities.

Appreciate all your help

 

[Dskize]

dude - all respect to your brother in-law and his commitment but maybe if there is a possibillity that he could suffer a life threatening injury from paintball the best advice might be to take up another sport.

seriously

 

[Crazy]

He has watched me play for years and only now can afford to play.

No insult intended but would you give up paintball without trying find a way around this obstacle?

Thanks for your thoughts though

 

[Dskize]

probably not mate but i think id play rec ball wearing a kevlar vest - you've got to think of the poor fcuker that lites him up and then has to run to phone the ambulance

good luck anyway bud hope it works out.