Paintball Safe for Kids. Paintball is a popular and exciting game for kids and adults alike, but for parents, it’s important to ensure the safety of their children while playing. While paintball is considered a safe activity, accidents can happen when proper safety measures are followed.
As a parent, it’s essential to understand the potential dangers of paintball and how to minimize the risks for your children. This article will discuss paintball safety tips for parents to help keep their children safe while playing.
Is Paintball Safe for Kids?
Yes, paintball can be safe for children, especially with the availability of low-impact paintball. This version of paintball uses smaller 50-caliber paintballs, resulting in 68% less force than regular 68-caliber paintballs. Children as young as nine can participate in low-impact paintball (depending on the paintball field), while the typical age limit for regular paintball is 10-12 years old.
While regular paintball is not harmful, low-impact paintball is a great option for younger children who are new to the game and want to test it out. Over time, some kids may even switch to regular paintball once they become comfortable with the game.
Paintball Safety Rules
Every paintball park has its own set of rules and regulations, and parents need to familiarize themselves with these before allowing their children to play. Some common rules include not shooting players who have already been eliminated, not shooting players at close range, and not removing masks while on the playing field.
Parents should also ensure that their children understand these rules and always adhere to them. The rules help to minimize the risk of injury and promote fair play.
Safety Tips:
- Wear protective gear, including goggles, gloves, and long sleeves.
- Always follow the rules of the paintball field or arena
- Use only approved paintball guns and equipment
- Keep the barrel plug in place until ready to play
- Don’t shoot at close range or in areas that could cause injury, such as the face or neck
- Don’t shoot other players who have already been eliminated
- Keep the paintball gun pointed in a safe direction when not playing
- Never remove your mask or goggles while on the playing field
- Keep a safe distance from other players and avoid physical contact
- Stay within designated playing areas and don’t enter off-limits areas
- Drink plenty of water and take breaks as needed to avoid heat exhaustion or dehydration
How Painful is Paintball for Kids?
Being hit by a paintball, regardless of the caliber size, will cause some discomfort. The common perception is that 50-caliber paintballs used in low-impact paintball result in 68% less force compared to regular 68-caliber paintballs. However, the accuracy of this statement is unclear.
Low-impact paintballs, such as 50-caliber paintballs, have less impact than regular 68-caliber paintballs. Even 43-caliber paintballs, which are used for backyard activities, have less force.
To give you an idea, getting hit by a paintball feels similar to being popped by a rubber band. Although it might sting for a moment, the pain subsides quickly and usually leaves a small bruise or welt. If the bruise or welt is quite large, it’s likely that the paintball was fired with a high velocity, exceeding the maximum limit of 280-300 FPS. Most paintball venues have rules in place to regulate the velocity and will enforce consequences for players who violate the rules.
Additionally, players cannot shoot at others from a close range, typically within a 15-foot radius. The first player to yell “SURRENDER” gets to continue playing, while the other player is eliminated and must leave the field unless specified otherwise by the game’s rules.
Conclusion
Paintball can be a fun and exciting activity for kids. Low-impact paintball is designed for younger children and has 68% less force than regular 68-caliber paintballs. Parents need to ensure that paintball venues follow safety rules such as keeping the velocity of paintball guns below 300 FPS and prohibiting shooting within a 15-foot radius. While getting hit by a paintball may cause some pain, it’s typically temporary and can be easily managed. Overall, with proper safety precautions, paintball can be a great way for kids to have fun and challenge themselves physically.
