Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
rated to provide protection against biological and chemical threats. This
product is already in widespread use among law enforcement, military,
and civilian clients, including the FBI, the United States Marine Corps,
the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, McDonnell Douglas, Monsanto
Chemical, Nestlé, Carlton Hotel line, Hilton Hotels, and the Italian navy,
to name but a few.
CHILDREN'S MASKS
One item of extreme importance that must be considered when providing
protection for an entire family is how to provide respiratory protection for
infants and small children. Filtration masks most commonly are not what
are termed a “positive pressure” or “over pressure” mask. That means that
most of the masks used for emergency escape or to provide protection
against NBC attack are not pressurized and have no flow of air into the
mask without the respirations of the user. You need to breathe through the
mask. The vacuum created brings the contaminated air into the filter,
where it is cleaned before reaching your mouth and lungs. The difficulty
is that it is sometimes hard to inhale with sufficient force to breathe easily.
Certainly it is impossible
for small children and in-
fants to do so. Therefore,
a pressurized system must
be used with children and
infants.
The best such prod-
ucts that we have seen are
made by the Israeli firm
Supergum (see Exhibit
9.11).
In Supergum's excel-
lent and relatively inex-
pensive systems for use
by children, the pressure
is created through a small battery-operated device and is reusable as long
as it is cared for properly. The mask has a positive, pressurized flow of air
that allows children to breathe normally. The claustrophobic feeling of
wearing a hood or mask is unavoidable. Parental assurance and comfort
Exhibit 9.11
Child's Mask (left) and Infant
Protective Suit (right)
Photos courtesy of Supergum, Inc.
