Friday's Thoughts and Other Stuff (Other Protective Masks)

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

1st Cavalry Division Soldier

Previously
Two weeks ago, I wrote about some considerations for protective masks. These covered several areas such as your family's choices for protective masks, evaluating your family's threat analysis to see "if" you family needs protective masks, and other thoughts.

Needless, to say, a chemical weapons attack is one of many threats where you and your family may need to protect your respiratory system.


Fire!!!
As always, the most likely threat is a home or work-place fire spewing toxic chemicals as you and your family evacuate the building.

Needless to say, I'll say it again, the easiest way of dealing with that event is to immediately evacuate your home, place of business, or school, when the fire/smoke alarm sounds the alarm.

But, ... If you can't immediately leave, you may need to purchase a smoke hood to protect yourself from the smoke for 5, 10, 15 minutes as you leave the burning building.

Smoke Hood with Filter,

training model (ca 2014)

photograph by

Slowking4

Smoke Hoods
These devices protect you from the toxic chemicals that are produced when a building burns. They have a rudimentary hood to protect your eyes, so  you can see as you evacuate the burning building with a filter that protects you throat and lungs from the hot, toxic gases produced by a fire.


Caution
Well, like any other product, all smoke hoods aren't created equal. Some only protect for five minutes while others offer twenty minutes of protection. Others require you to 'don' the smoke hood like a protective mask with a complicated elastic head harness while others just slip over your head. Depending on the smoke hood, some have a small  viewing port (covered, of course) with  clear plastic while others have a clear bag (that's slipped over your head) to protect your eyes.

Oooh, ... Some of the smoke hoods don't filter all of the fire's toxic gases.


Resting on my Laurels
When I did research, for Prepper: Surviving the Tough Times Ahead, in my opinion, the best smoke hood was the EVAC-U8 manufactured by Brookdale International Systems, Inc., for several reasons.

First, according to the specs, the filter protects for 20 minutes.

Second, it filters all of the toxic gases, released during a home fire.

Third, the hood is clear, so there is no need to adjust the smoke hood to see, as you evacuate.

Fourth, it has a trainer hood, so you family can ... Practice, Practice, Practice.

Lastly, the EVAC-U8 is relatively inexpensive, especially compared to other smoke hoods.


Recall
Of course, the company conducted a recall and seems to have gone out of business.

But, ... The criteria remains the same; protect your eyes, give you a large view so you can see to escape, filter all of the fire's gases, easy to use, and, just maybe, have an inexpensive trainer hood.


Dust
Another hazard facing your family's respiratory system is dust. Dust from industrial, agricultural, and natural sources. Yes, even; nuclear explosions.

Now, these dust masks can be purchased at your local big box home improvement store, local farm and home, family owned hardware stores, or from business on the internet. Most of these masks will not offer eye protection, however; for most of these dust sources, your family will be able to used widely available eye protection like safety glasses with side shields, goggles, or other safety eye wear.

Soldiers Wearing Various Types of Dust Masks

These masks come in various colors and styles. Needless to say, depending on what you're getting prepared for will determine which mask you and your family will need.

So, ... You go to the store and see a N-95 mask. The letter means ...

"N" = Not resistant to oil;
"R" = somewhat resistant to oil
"P" = strongly resistant to oil or oil-proof

While the number means  ...

"95" filters 95% of airborne particles
"99" filters 99% of airborne particles
"100" filters 99.97% of airborne particles

As an example, ...

The N-95 mask that you can purchase at the local big-box home improvement store is ...

Not resistant to oil and will filter 95% of airborne particles.

While a P-99 mask that you bought on line will ...

Be oil-proof and filter 99% of airborne particles.

A German Worker Wearing a Mask with Valve

Now some of these masks will have valves on the mask's front. The valve helps control moisture build up in the mask.

Of course, there is a proper way to wear the mask. Check the mask's box, instruction insert, or ask a knowledgeable person, like me (in the comments)


Got To Go
I have to go. I'm studying for a job interview.

So, ... Wish me luck ; - )

Link:
WebMD - Respiratory System
http://www.webmd.com/lung/respiratory-system-18881

Consumer Product Safety Commission - Emergency Smoke Hoods Recalled for Risk of Carbon Monoxide Inhalation
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2006/Emergency-Smoke-Hoods-Recalled-for-Risk-of-Carbon-Monoxide-Inhalation/

Food and Drug Administration - Masks and N95 Respirators
https://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/GeneralHospitalDevicesandSupplies/PersonalProtectiveEquipment/ucm055977.htm

OSHA - Respirator Types
https://www.osha.gov/video/respiratory_protection/resptypes_transcript.html
Approved Gas Masks - Gas Mask Buyer's Tips
http://www.approvedgasmasks.com/defective-masks.htm
 

Friday's Thoughts and Other Stuff (Protective Masks)

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Sailors assigned to Amphibious Construction Battalion One,

dress in full mission oriented protective posture (MOPP) suits

during Tactical Warrior 2010 (ca 2010)

photograph by

Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Bryan Niegel

Previously
Last week, I wrote about getting out of your home, during a fire, but I forgot somethings.

First, during a fire, the hot, poisonous gases will rise to the ceiling of a room, so you and your family need to practice rolling out of bed when the fire/smoke alarm starts to beep, buzz, or sound.

Why?

If you immediately sit up and take a breath, you may breath toxic fumes causing you to become unconscious.

Next, once you, your partner, or children roll out of bed to the floor, they need to practice crawling out of the house, just in case the room has filled with smoke.

Of course, all this depends on the situation, 'cause ...


Situations
When the fire alarm goes off in your family's hotel room, you and your family immediately leave the hotel!!!

By calmly walking out of your hotel room's door (after checking the door with the back of your hand, to make sure its cool to the touch), down the hall, to the emergency evacuation exit (checking the door with the back of your hand, before opening the door), calmly walk down the stairs, and out the emergency exit, ... Right?

Then gather at your family's car because that's the emergency rally point (safe gathering place) when your family travels.

However, ...

When the frying pan catches fire, causing the kitchen's beautiful curtains (your partner and children picked just for that room) to ignite, causing the kitchen cabinets to burst into flames, as the fire alarm sounds, filling the great room and kitchen with smoke ...

You yell for everyone to get out of the house, as you crouch down or crawl (very quickly) out of the house to avoid breathing the fire's toxic fumes, ... Right?

Then gather at your neighbor's front yard because that's the emergency rally point (safe gathering place) and make sure everyone in the family and all your visitors have left your burning home.

However, ...

When the fire alarm sounds, at work, because a student placed a still smoking cigarette in the trash can, full of paper towels, you gather your students and shepard them to the designated rally point, doing a head count to account for all your students, even though; someone already removed the smoking trash can to the outside, ... Right?

However, ...

When the fire alarm sounds, as your family watches the highly anticipated big-screen action movie, you quietly grab your children's hand and lead your family to the movie theatre's emergency exit door, slowly opening the door checking for terrorist gunners (waiting for families to rush into the outside ambush) before leaving the building and rallying at the family's car, ... Right? 

Note:
All of the above situations and many others (except the frying pan, burning curtains, cabinets bursting into flames situation) have happened to my family.

Ooooh, just so you know, the frying pan incident happened to family friends.


Protective Masks
Now, to the purpose of this article.

These United States military faces adversaries that have the capability to use chemical weapons, so they have spent millions, if not billions, of dollars developing, testing, issuing, and training with chemical weapons protective masks.

Cool, .... except these adversaries also have the capabilities to use these weapons on their citizens and us, so you and your partner (depending on the situation) may decide to purchase protective masks for your family.


Choices
You can decide to go with new or used protective masks. A new protective mask with a new filter rated to protect you from chemical weapons will set you back anywhere from $150 to $550, each.

So, ... For a family of four, providing new masks, would cost $600 to $1200.

Needless to say, it will cost a little bit more for extra filters and carrying bags, though, you can purchase surplus protective mask carriers from many different military surplus dealers.

Used masks will run about $20 to $60, sometimes more, depending on the model and where your buy it from.

Heck, there is one store selling WWII surplus masks without a filter for $300. Ouch.


Threat Analysis
You know, I was going to bring it up, so go get your family's threat analysis.


Situations
O.K. Let us look at where chemical weapons attacks, chemical spills, and chemical accidents are on your family's threat analysis.

Is it pretty far down the list, or is it near the top since you live in Iran, Syria, Jordon, Saudi Arabia, or ... Europe?

If it's far down the list and you live in some rural area of these United States, you just might not need a protective mask for you and our family.

Now, if you live near some railroad tracks, underground gas pipeline, or other industrial area, you might need protective masks for your family, but that's a different situation.

More about that, later.

Next, if a chemical weapons attack is still far down the list, but you live in a large city, (Berlin, Paris, New York, Tokyo, London, and many others) you might think about just buying several surplus Israeli protective masks with several new filters, just in case. At $30 for the Israeli civilian mask (adult or child size) and another $80 to $120 for new spare filters ($40 per filter), a family of four would spend about $600.

Lastly, if the possibility of a chemical weapons attack is a matter of "when, not if"or your family lives near a possible chemical weapons target like a military base, your family might want to spend the extra money on new, current CBRN (chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear) protective masks. At $175, for a 'mid-grade' mask, a family of four would spend (with three filters) about $1200.


Options
Before I begin, please understand, I don't know your family's situation, so you and your partner need to sit down and think about this because there have been chemical weapons used against civilian populations, in past and recent conflicts. Plus, several recent events (Hamburg and London), according to me, may have been practice runs for a chemical weapons attack.

So, ...

What's your budget? Be reasonable.

If it's low; go with the surplus Israeli mask for $30. They are rugged and simple. Then buy one new filter (can you tell having a new filter is very, very, important) to go with the filter shipped with the protective mask. Next month buy another new filter then next month do the same thing. The next month do the same thing again, and stop there because you're going to need to practice using your protective mask.

Yes, ... Practice, Practice, Practice.

If you have a medium budget, purchase a better mask. The surplus Israeli military M-15 ($70) is better then a surplus Israeli civilian (I think it's a M-5 but I'm not sure) mask, while a Tactical Domestic Preparedness mask ($175) is better. Needless to say, the Evolution 5000 military mask ($230) would be 'top of the line' for the medium budget, just don't forget your family will need at least three filters for each mask.

For the upper budget, I'm thinking Oprah Winfrey, you might think about purchasing a 3M CBRN M40 masks ($550) or current military issue M-50 protective masks ($600) with filters ($90 each).

Needless to say, these aren't the only options for a family concerned about surviving a chemical weapons attack. Some of y'all have small children or babies that can't wear a protective mask, so your family requires, what I call, protective bags. Some of y'all have breathing difficulties, so you might require a powered unit.

Almost lastly, some of you may want to protect a whole room with a room filter ($2500 and up) to allow the whole family to be together.


Lastly
Prepper: Surviving the Tough Times Ahead covers more of the issues facing a family preparing for a chemical weapons attack or a industrial chemical spill.

Or, ...

You can ask your questions in the comments.

Link:
Willow Haven Outdoor - 8 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Gas Mask
http://willowhavenoutdoor.com/featured-wilderness-survival-blog-entries/8-things-you-should-know-before-buying-a-gas-mask/

YouTube: Doretha Jones - Donning and Doffing A Chemical Protective Mask
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ycpYgicCJxQ

YouTube: markdcatlin - Don Your Mask in Nine Seconds 1962 USDOD
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=28FPcfV_4Hc

YouTube: 1st Marine Logistic Group - "How To"- Don and clear a gas mask
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqHfjXnYwek

YouTube: Air Mobility Command - The New M50 Gas Mask
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yMDh7wiF3qg

YouTube: Scott Safety EMEA - Scott Safety ProPak SCBA Donning & Doffing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgpwEZnCjbA

Approved Gas Masks - Home
http://approvedgasmasks.com/

RDD USA - Gas Masks
https://rddusa.com/product-category/gas-mask

Keep Shooting - Israeli Gas Mask
http://www.keepshooting.com/israeli-gas-masks.html

Army Navy Sales - Gas Mask: Israeli Military M15 Gas Mask
http://www.armynavysales.com/products/israeli-military-m15-gas-mask/

Edlestat - Gas Masks
http://gasmaskedlestat.com/

Gas Mask Pro - Shop
http://www.gasmaskpro.com/shop/

Dicks Army Surplus - Army Surplus Gas Masks
http://www.dicksarmysurplus.com/Military_Surplus_Gas_Masks_For_Sale_s/126.htm


Oooh, ...
Go Engineers

Link:
YouTube: Avon Products - Donning an NH15 in Under 30 Seconds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_DsEXn3WpU

Friday's Thoughts and Other Stuff (Air)

Dear Preppers and Survivalists,

Building Fire (ca 2006)

photograph by

Sylvain Pedneault

The Most Important
As you and your family get prepared for the tough times ahead, there is one prep that is more important then all the others. It is thinking. Without thinking, you and your family will die, very quickly

This isn't hyperbole.

Think about it. Do you just walk across a busy street?

No, you look both ways, in a certain order, then think about the best time to walk across the street. Heck, you even teach your children how to safely cross the street by evaluating when is the best time to cross!


Next?
After thinking, what is the most important prep for you and your family?

If you read the title, you know that it is air because without air you and your family have about four minutes to live, probably less.


High-Speed
We (you and your family) can get wrapped up in preparing for unlikely events, such as a chemical weapons attack, train derailment, or other low probability event that would require you to spend $400 or more per family member to survive.

While, ... you haven't done the free or inexpensive stuff to prevent being killed by lack of breathable air during more likely events.


Free
The first 'free' thing that you, your partner, and children should do is make an emergency evacuation plan, in case you have to leave your home during a house fire.

The way to do that is to draw a map of the house then discuss the quickest way out of each room with your partner and children.

First Floor Emergency Evacuation Plan

source

Prepper: Surviving the Tough Times Ahead

Second Floor Emergency Evacuation Plan

source

Prepper: Surviving the Tough Times Ahead

Notice
There are two ways out of each room, a primary and a secondary. The primary way uses 'normal' methods of getting out of the house, such as through doors. The alternative way is by using windows or doors that aren't normally used to get out of that particular room


Free, Part Two
The next thing, you and your family need to do is to have several emergency evacuation drills. That's right ... Practice, Practice, Practice.


Drill One
The first practice drill is done during the day, and everybody knows exactly when it's going to happen.

So, ... You or your partner push the fire alarm test button then everybody evacuates to a safe gathering place, like the mailbox, a neighbor's front pouch, or other close location. If you have small children, you may want to 'chaperone' them, as they evacuate.


Drill Two
Same concept, but start with everyone laying in bed.


Drill Three
In this drill, your family makes the drill a little more complicated. Everybody has to crawl out of the house, to simulate smoke filling the home.


Drill Four
Everybody is in bed, at night


Ooooh, I Forgot
The safe gathering place? The senior person starts a head count to account for everyone in the family. Yes, this means your teenage daughter or son are in charge until you or your partner arrives.

So, ... Get to practicing.


A Little Bit of Dough
You noticed? I assumed you and your family have a functional smoke alarm.

If you don't, you need to purchase one or two this payday. Right know would be better, but I'll give you a break for now.


Where?
A single story home needs one fire alarm/smoke detector in the hallway by the bedrooms. While a two story home needs one on the first floor and one on the second floor.

Ground Floor Smoke Detector Location
source

Prepper: Surviving the Tough Times Ahead

Second Floor Smoke Detector Location
source

Prepper: Surviving the Tough Times Ahead

Carbon Monoxide Detector
Most families don't need a carbon monoxide detector because y'all have electric heat. For families with propane, natural gas, heating oil, and wood stove, you need to also purchase a carbon monoxide detector.

Trust me, on this.

One winter, our neighbors were in Chicago visiting family when all of a sudden everyone is having headaches and feeling sleepy.

Luckily, Dad recognized the symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning and had everyone evacuate the house, call the emergency services, and ... spent four hours in a hospital emergency room making sure everyone was o.k.

It seems the heat exchanger had cracked, allowing carbon monoxide to enter his mom and dad's ventilation system.


Not Off the Hook
All you renters, don't think you're off the hook. You need to have a smoke detector/fire alarm for your home, too. The same goes for a carbon monoxide detector, if your home has gas or heating oil for heat.

Even "If"the landlord doesn't provide one.


Oooh, I Forgot
You need one smoke detector/fire alarm on every level of your home. This means at least one in the basement, one on the first floor, one on the second floor, and one on all other floors that people can be.


Link:
City of Lafayette, Indiana - Location of Smoke Detectors
http://www.lafayette.in.gov/761/Location-of-Smoke-Detectors

National Fire Protection Association - Smoke alarms
http://www.nfpa.org/public-education/by-topic/smoke-alarms

YouTube: Check This House - Where to Install Smoke Alarms in Homes | Smoke Detector Placement
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XwhMi0eAs4