Sticky foam as a less-than-lethal technology

Steven H. Scott

doi:10.1117/12.265402

29 January 1997 Sticky foam as a less-than-lethal technology

Steven H. Scott

Proceedings Volume 2934, Security Systems and Nonlethal Technologies for Law Enforcement; (1997) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.265402
Event: Enabling Technologies for Law Enforcement and Security, 1996, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) in 1994 completed a project funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to determine the applicability of sticky foam for correctional applications. Sticky foam is an extremely tacky, tenacious material used to block, entangle, and impair individuals. The NIJ project developed a gun capable of firing multiple shots of sticky foam, tested the gun and sticky foam effectiveness on SNL volunteers acting out prison and law enforcement scenarios, and had the gun and sticky foam evaluated by correctional representatives. Based on the NIJ project work, SNL supported the Marine Corps Mission, Operation United Shield, with sticky foam guns and supporting equipment to assist in the withdrawal of UN Peacekeepers from Somalia. Prior to the loan of the waste disposal, use limitations, use protocol and precautions, emergency facial clean-up, skin clean-up, gun filling, targeting and firing, and gun cleaning. The Marine Corps successfully used the sticky foam guns as part of that operation. This paper describes these recent developments of sticky foam for non-lethal uses and some of the lessons learned from scenario and application testing.

Citation Download Citation

Steven H. Scott "Sticky foam as a less-than-lethal technology", Proc. SPIE 2934, Security Systems and Nonlethal Technologies for Law Enforcement, (29 January 1997); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.265402

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