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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated

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To: Hoa Hao who wrote (84987)	11/9/2004 8:14:33 AM
From: unclewest	Read Replies (5) of 793752

I notice they have a dust mask in that "tube". Of what value is that?? In a dusty enviroment maybe, but gas, chemicals?? HH, This is a complicated issue. Dust mask proponents are thinking about 9/11 situations. I see high temporary value in having surgical quality masks available for bio attacks. They would function as dust masks too. The problem comes in knowing when to put it on. If you are being sprayed by a crop duster or a building in your neighborhood collapses the answer is obvious. More subtle delivery systems will not be as apparent. You must have such a mask readily available at all times for it to be effective. I believe the Red Cross intends for the tube to be kept at your workplace where the mask will be handy for escaping from a 9/11 situation. Gas and chemicals present other challenges. Neither dust nor surgical masks offer protection against them. Gas masks are a challenging issue. Anyone who has served in the armed forces knows that extensive training is required to use one properly and effectively. Unless you have been thoroughly trained or have access to such training, I generally do not recommend spending the money. Effective masks are hard to find. Knowing when to don a mask is difficult to determine without detectors. Knowing when to take it off safely requires extensive environmental test equipment. Children’s sizes are difficult to locate. I think it would be very difficult to train a child to stay in a gas mask for very long. Fitting a gas mask properly takes special training. In some situations, you should go through a detoxification station prior to removing the mask. Eating and drinking while wearing a mask requires more special equipment and training. Soldiers carry special self-injectors called atropine syrettes containing drugs that counteract nerve gas. The M258 kit is used to decontaminate oneself from mustard gas. These syrettes and kits are another supply item and training issue. I do not own a gas mask. In my opinion, most civilians are better served by being prepared for a CBR attack in other ways. Having a solid working knowledge of fallout zones, an evacuation plan that can be executed on a moment’s notice and a well-informed family is most important to me. I am not opposed to owning a mask especially if you are thoroughly trained. If you do have gas masks, remember they are a temporary measure and you must still evacuate the fallout zone quickly. uw

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