BitePRO® protective clothing is designed to help protect teachers and education professionals from biting, scratching and pinching in special education settings.
Historically, improvised solutions such as forearm bandages, padding and sporting equipment have been used to protect staff working in environments where biting, scratching or pinching may occur. Purpose-designed protective clothing offers a more practical and discreet alternative.
Biting, scratching and pinching can occur for many different reasons, including distress, difficulty communicating, sensory needs or periods of heightened emotion. For staff working in special education, these behaviours can sometimes create a foreseeable risk of injury.
Schools should assess the risks associated with individual situations and ensure staff understand those risks and receive appropriate training. Where a risk assessment identifies a need for additional protection, protective clothing can provide another layer of support alongside behaviour management, training and de-escalation strategies. This may include scratch and bite resistant arm guards or jackets and tops.
It is not always possible to predict when biting, scratching or pinching may occur. The level of risk will vary between individuals, environments and situations, which is why protective clothing should be considered according to the needs identified through an appropriate risk assessment.
Where staff need to remain close to support, reassure or intervene, exposed areas such as the hands, forearms and upper body may be particularly vulnerable. Appropriate protective clothing can help reduce the risk of injury while allowing staff to continue supporting the student.
De-escalation, behaviour support and appropriate training should remain central to managing challenging situations. However, where a recognised risk of biting, scratching or pinching remains, protective clothing can provide an additional layer of protection for teachers and support staff.
BitePRO® garments are designed to combine bite and scratch resistance with the flexibility and comfort needed for everyday use. This helps staff stay protected without unnecessarily restricting movement or creating a barrier between them and the people they support.
Explore our full range of bite resistant clothing, learn more about BitePRO® protection for special education, or contact us if you need help choosing the right level of protection.
