• Infographic: Paintball Welt Treatment

    Paintball welts are a common part of the game. Players have a range of feelings toward their injuries: Some consider them battle wounds and flaunt them with pride, others find them a minor annoyance, while others are very bothered by the pain and swelling. The intensity of welts varies depending on the range and angle of the shot and whether the person was wearing layers and protective padding. Always see a doctor if your welt increases in pain and swelling over time or does not heal after two weeks. However, the majority of paintball welts can be treated at home. Check out the following infographic to find out how to heal your paintball bruises:

    October 20, 2015

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  • Does it Hurt to Get Hit With a Paintball?

    If you are about to play paintball for the first time, AC Paintball welcomes you to this exciting game of strategy, action, and adventure. Feel free to browse our blog posts for tips and tricks on gear, strategy, equipment, and more. This post will look at the most popular question paintball newbies ask us: Does it hurt to get shot?

    The answer is not as bad as you might think, so don’t allow fear of potential pain prevent you from trying paintball for the first time. Yes, getting hit with a paintball on the bare skin of a sensitive body part at a high speed, close range, and direct angle would certainly hurt quite a bit. However, in reality that is most often not the way it happens. With protective clothing and a safe range, most times you will only feel a strong thump on your body. There are many other precautions and safety measures paintball players can take to avoid and minimize pain.

    green paintballs

    How to Reduce Pain When Playing Paintball

    1. Wear Layers of Clothing

    Wear loose fitting clothing and as many layers as the weather will allow. Sweatshirts, sweatpants, and camouflage jackets are all great choices if it is cool enough outside. The thick cloth will absorb much of the impact and the paint will actually break less often. As you continue to play paintball regularly, it is a great idea to invest in specialized clothing that provides padding and extra protection in vital areas.

    During the summer or in hotter climates this is obviously more difficult to do. However, try to wear at least a light a thin long sleeve shirt and light pants, plus gloves and goggles (check out our collection of high-quality rental gear if you don’t have your own). Even just one protective layer is ideal over bare skin.

    2. Protect Sensitive Spots

    The most sensitive areas to get hit are the hands, neck, top of head, and thighs. Always wear paintball gloves with padding and armor on the back to protect the hands if you are worried about pain. Find gloves that are comfortable and allow for flexibility as you will need to operate the marker quickly during games. The top of the head is vulnerable to shots when you are crawling toward an opponent, so make sure to have cover during this time. Your neck should be protected with almost any type of mask, but be careful when looking upwards as this will probably expose the neck.

    Direct shots hurt more than angled shots, but it is obviously difficult to control the direction from which an opponent shoots you. Just keep this in mind and try to deflect a shot from the side if at all possible.

    3. Follow Safety Rules

    Each field will have their own safety rules to be explained before play, but they are generally some variation of the following. To be eliminated, a player must be directly hit on any part of their body, gear, or equipment. The paintball must break and leave a mark about the size of a quarter. When you are hit, yell “I’m hit” or “I’m out” to avoid duplicate hits. Hold your arms and marker in the air as you walk off the field so opponents know that’s where you are headed. If you aren’t sure if a hit counts as an out, yell “paint check” and a referee will come over and let you know.

    4. Agree on the Surrender Rule

    The surrender rule is in place generally to allow beginning players to get the hang of the game without the fear of being bombarded and shot painfully by more experienced players. The surrender rule allows players the option to surrender if an opponent has a direct shot on them within 10 to 15 feet. The opponent should yell “surrender,” “point blank,” or “freeze” to let the player know they can shoot them at a close range. The player should comply verbally or simply raise their hands to avoid being hit. If the player refuses and attempts to run or shoot, they will probably take a painful shot. However, it’s good sportsmanship to fire at the foot when in close range to minimize pain.

    5. Keep a Strategic Position
    Communicate and work with your team to avoid being bombarded by shots. One mistake rookies often make it forgetting that paintball is a team sport and not individual. Never run into the middle of the field blindly without any plan because this will overexpose yourself to the other team. It’s better to be strategic and develop a plan that involves cover from your teammates, a tree, bunker, or obstacle. Try to have an idea of where your opponents are at all times as well.

    Position is very important in paintball. Get caught in a vulnerable position and you can get shot more times in a few seconds than a few hours time in a strategic position. Remember that there is safety in numbers and acting with teammates instead of alone greatly reduces your chances of getting shot.

    “Paintballs green” by Makkonen – Self-photographed. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paintballs_green.jpg#/media/File:Paintballs_green.jpg

    May 19, 2015

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  • How to Treat Paintball Welts

    Paintball is a game of strategy, action, and fun. However, some negative aspects occasionally come along with the positive. Minor injuries such as welts, bruises, pain and sore muscles are sometimes unavoidable. Most players consider paintball well worth the risk of pain, some even welcome the risk to increase the adrenaline and excitement. This blog will focus on welts in particular; how to prevent, decrease the intensity, and treat welts from paintballs.

    green paintballs

    “Paintballs green” by Makkonen – Self-photographed. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons – http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paintballs_green.jpg#/media/File:Paintballs_green.jpg

    There are many different brands and variations of paint. Some are designed with a specific strength in mind such as increased speed, breaks, accuracy, or aerodynamics. All of these paintballs are made of the same basic materials. A thin shell holds a water-soluble and dye filler material, similar to a vitamin capsule. The filler is non-toxic, non-staining, and completely harmless. All paint breaks down easily in water and heat. Paint comes is every color of the rainbow and the brighter the better. Most paintball fields require you to buy all paint on site to be sure it is complies with safety and quality regulations.

    You can rest assured that paintballs are non-toxic when they come in contact with your body. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t leave a mark. Paintballs can cause welts the same as any object that collides with the skin traveling at a very high speed could. Any time someone is hit hard with a projectile object, welts and bruises are likely to develop underneath the skin.

    Welts can last for just a day or two to several weeks depending on the intensity of the impact. The good news is these are not usually extreme injuries and will probably heal up fine on their own. However, there are treatment options to speed up the healing process and decrease any pain.

    Treatment Options for Healing Paintball Welts

    1. Wash the bruised area with soap and water

    2. Apply ice to the affected area to reduce swelling

    3. Use a topical treatment such as neosporin to soothe the injury

    4. Keep the welt elevated if possible

    5. Alternate ice with warm compresses to keep blood circulation

    6. Apply witch hazel or vitamin K cream to speed up the healing process

    7. Rest the area and don’t engage in strenuous activities

    This treatment is most effective while the welt is still red in color, usually during the first 24 hours after receiving the injury. It is recommended to seek medical attention for any welts that increase in pain and swelling over time or last longer than two weeks.

    How to Avoid Future Paintball Welts

    Wear Protective Clothing

    The best way to prevent and minimize welts is to wear protective clothing while playing paintball. Long sleeve, pants, and multiple layers will provide the best protection if the weather allows. Never remove goggles or helmet at any time on the field until all barrel plugs are in place.

    Know the Most Sensitive Areas
    The most sensitive areas to get hit are the hands, neck, top of head, and thighs. Use gear to protect these areas such as padded gloves, helmet, and thick clothing. Keep these spots in mind when playing and avoid being hit in these areas if possible.

    April 22, 2015

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