Gas Masks

Gas masks or respirators are designed to protect the wearers' respiratory and ocular systems from chemical and biological warfare agents and other toxins. As the respiratory and ocular systems are most susceptible to NBC contaminants and chemical warfare agents the gas mask is the primary form of personal NBC (nuclear biological and chemical) warfare protection. Generally gas masks are constructed from a thick non-permeable rubberised plastic, some having an in-built protective hood covering the head. The rubberised plastic is designed to form an airtight seal against the skin. For this reason facial hair heightens the risk of a 'bad seal' and should be avoided in an NBC environment.

Gas masks use replaceable charcoal filters that filter liquid, aerosol and vapour toxins from contaminated air. Gas mask filters have a limited lifespan. They must be replaced if they are damaged, exposed to water/moisture, after a set period of exposure in a contaminated environment, after prolonged usage in a non-contaminated environment, or if their 'shelf life' has expired.

NBC PERSONAL PROTECTION SYSTEMS

Most modern NBC personal protection systems combine a military specification respirator with an NBC suit, which is worn over existing combat clothing. The NBC suit is either made from impermeable material, which does not breathe or, more suitable to military operations a breathable charcoal impregnated fabric. Other items within a military NBC suit will be rubberised 'over boots' and outer gloves, cotton liner gloves, chemical detection paper, decontamination powder and often an intra-muscular injector with a nerve agent antidote cocktail of oxime and atropine.

Military gas masks were first employed en masse during the First World War to protect soldiers from gas attacks. Toxic gases were seen as a way to bring an end to the stalemate on the Western Front. The predominant chemical agents used on the Western Front were mustard gas (blister agent) and chlorine gas (choking agent). From then until now gas masks have become as much a part of the soldiers personal equipment as his rifle, webbing or helmet.