Hip Protector Pants and/or Pads Hip Protector Pads have been used for many years to help prevent hip fractures. By using Hip Protector Pads, some people who are in danger of falling may be saved from a fracture, or after a hip replacement operation, the Hip Protector Pads may prevent another operation. Pelican Hip Protector Pads are designed to partly absorb and redistribute the impact of a fall, particularly around the Greater Trochanter area to protect the bone. A feature of the Pelican Pads is special black foam on the inside. This breathable foam keeps the Pad slightly away from the body to help the skin to breathe. As they may be worn 24 hours a day, it is important they are comfortable for the patient. This black foam has a coarse texture that will grip to the inside of the pant pocket to keep the pad in place inside the pocket, but it will still be soft against the body. The 179SS Super Soft Pads should be removed when washing and sprayed with a cleaner / sanitiser / deodoriser before placing into a clean pair of pants. The 179SSW Super Soft Washable Pads can be left in the pants for washing, or they can be removed and washed separately. The 179SSWT5 Hip Pad was introduced in June 2013, as part of the Pelican Manufacturing P/L continuing improvement program. Older people are more fragile and less resilient to impact so their bone structure requires more protection. This 179SSWT5 Pad is made in the same way as the 179SSW Hip Pad, but with thicker internal impact reduction foam.