Hey! Sorry, I don’t know how I missed this. Characters have 1 strike (health) and five potential strike locations (divided into approximate body parts). Slotting an item into a potential strike location provides protection of 1 strike to that body part, at the cost of the item being destroyed.
So a character wearing a helmet will have 2 strike( health) if he is hit in the head, and 1 strike in any other location.
Generally speaking, you would strive to keep your slots occupied with an item, as it is better for the item to be destroyed rather than the character perish.