How BlastSax alternative sandbags help bomb disposal experts at IED emergencies

BlastSax alternative sandbags have been described as the ‘Ferrari of sandbags’ at the UK’s leading security show.

The sandless #sandbags - devised by UK company Environmental Defence Systems and in use with armed forces and specialist police units worldwide – were used in a live demonstration at the Security and Policing Show in Farnborough, Hampshire.

The scenario focused on the threat of IEDs in an urban environment, featuring a suspicious package found inside a vehicle and a suspicious item in nearby rubble. The police had evacuated and cordoned off the area before tasking an Explosives Ordnance Disposal Team to investigate.

As part of their actions they surrounded the IEDs with BlastSax sandless sandbags which are the original sandless sandbag and super quick to deploy at the scene. ?

The exercise was set up by Counter-EO which represents the UK’s counter explosive ordnance supply chain, working closely with the British Government, British Army and security forces to counter the threat of IEDs, explosive remains of war and other explosive threats.?

Counter-EO chairman Jeremy Earnshaw said: “BlastSax are the Ferrari of sandbags. They have been extensively trialled by the British armed forces, are innovative, lightweight alternatives to traditional sandbags that can save lives by mitigating IED explosions and preserving forensic evidence.

“Their uniform shape makes them easy to stack and handle. BlastSax are proven to be more effective than sandbags at capturing explosive fragments and also provide reliable protection against grenades and bullets, even at close range.”

BlastSax are packed heat-sealed for space-saving storage so one box of 14 (two packs of 7 BlastSax) can be easily carried by one person and hundreds will fit into the back of a rapid response vehicle, even something as small as an estate car.

Once at the scene, simply immerse the BlastSax fully in water which its gelling polymer absorbs and retains, transforming it into an instant sandless sandbag in under eight minutes.

This means they expand from being ultra flat and lightweight, weighing just 700 grams before activation, to becoming taut and weighing around 20kg (44lbs) after coming into contact in water.

BlastSax can be used with aqueous decontaminants to neutralise chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats.

They are ideal for conventional demolition, minefield clearance, combat engineering, personnel protection when preparing detonators,?IED applications, pipe bombs, CBRN tasks, blast protection in sensitive locations where collateral damage is unacceptable and to prevent flooding.??

BlastSax were devised and manufactured by Environmental Defence Systems Ltd (EDS) based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire.

For more information go to www.blastsax.com