Let me just start by making what some may consider a bold statement about the sport of paintball. Though it has been categorized as an "extreme" sport, paintball is one the safest sports currently played today.

According to PSP (Paintball Sports Promotions), the world of paintball has a huge injury taboo. This taboo only exists in the minds of general public and not in the statistical data. The industry has hard lined that the rare but highly publicized "eye injury" almost always occurs when the proper protective gear in not worn and on fields that are unsupervised and often illegal.

The latest statistical data shows that only .2 injuries per 1,000 exposures giving Paintball the lowest injury rate of any Extreme Sport. According to Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, the average player will suffer an injury about once every 500 years.

Out of all the gear that is involved the sport of Paintball; Goggles are the number one priority. Playing on a regulated field, the sport of Paintball is extremely safe. On legitimate fields, the wearing of goggles is mandatory at all times while on the field. The use of barrel plugs or barrel socks are also employed by field owners to block accidental discharge of paintballs from guns (markers) in staging areas.

Overall, when proper education and use of the gear in the sport, Paintball is safer than most sports out there. This includes soccer, tennis, and even bowling. Might I mention as well that this game is played mostly by girls and guys ages 12 -24. I am 35 and can't tell you how much fun I have when I have the chance to get out there. Age is not so much a factor; it all depends on how active you are. I've seen guys as old as 45 enjoying the game thoroughly.

Where do I get the best protective gear? One of the best places I've found to purchase high-end paintball goggles and barrel plugs or socks is Sniper Productions

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The most important kind of protective gear for paintballers, as any serious paintball player would say, are your goggles. If you have never been injured in the eyes—trust me you do not ever want the experience. But more important than the discomfort, is the fact that paintball damage to the eyes can be permanent—and can even cause blindness.

The only places on your body that can be permanently damaged by paintballs are your eyes—so if you have goggles for your game, you take little to no risk of injury (at least from the paintballs, that is).

However, not just any pair of goggles will work. This is a bad assumption to make, because paintball goggles are specifically designed for paintball. And other goggles such as ski goggles, lab goggles, swimming goggles etc, even if they seem to be very sturdy and dependable, are not made to protect your eyes from paintballs.

Did you know that The American Society of Testing Materials has made specific regulations, to which any lenses made for playing paintball must adhere? For example, all lenses must be made Lexan, and of a certain thickness or better.

The American Society of Testing Materials declares that there must be shooting tests, firstly to test whether the lens will come apart from frame on impact. The lens is shot from a distance of 1.5 meters or lower. Secondly The American Society of Testing Materials requires a test that will determine whether if the lens will cracks or breaks under heavy stresses. In this test the goggle lens is shot at a distance of 1.5 meters or lower with four paintballs at three second intervals and in four places on the lens. As of now, all mainstream goggles fall within parameters, so if you are buying paintball goggles, as long as they are paintball goggles, you can be sure that they live up to these strict guidelines.

An injury to the eye can be permanent, and even if it is not, damage to the outer layer of the eye, the cornea, is an injury you do not want to have—I promise you. Corneal damage is perhaps the most painful kind of injury one can sustain. It has been said that a scratched cornea is more excruciating than the pain of childbirth—if you can imagine that.

So why not splurge for the sake of saving yourself? If you enjoy paintball, and you do not have a pair of paintball goggles—go ahead and buy some. Even if you have played many times without goggles before, purchase a pair for your own sake. You may find yourself in a situation soon that will take you by surprise, and make you very glad you did.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, recreation and home décor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on recreation and safety please visit Paintball Safety.

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