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The
following is a translation of the Israeli Civilian Gas Mask instructions
The Protective
Gas Mask
Your gas mask is your first line of defense against biological agents.
Take care of it.
1. Masking: Inhaling airborne microorganisms is the greatest danger
in biological operations. A properly fitted protective mask, which has
been kept in good condition will completely protect you against inhaling
microorganisms in the air. Therefore, putting on your protective mask
at the first indication or suspicion that the enemy is using a biological
agent aerosol is just as important as masking at the first sign of a
toxic chemical attack. Since you cannot detect the presence of biological
agents, you must continue to wear your mask until you are instructed
to remove it.
2. Your Lifesaver: While individual protection in chemical and biological
operations is not the result of any single act, one idea should be clear
to you - your protective mask is the number one item of protection against
toxic chemicals and biological agents. Survival in biological and chemical
operations depends upon preventing these agents from getting on or entering
your body. While the protective mask alone cannot do this, it does play
the major role. It prevents you from inhaling or getting into your eyes
all known agent aerosols. To say that your protective mask is a life
saver is to state a true and simple fact.
3. How Your Protective Mask Works: A protective mask is a cover, or
shield, against harmful substances in the air, just as a house is a
shield against wind and rain. To protect you from breathing toxic substances,
your mask contains a filter unit. This filter prevents toxic chemical
agent vapors and toxic solid or liquid particles from reaching your
face, eyes and lungs. When you wear a mask, you draw air into it by
inhaling. This air is purified by a filter unit before it enters your
nose and mouth. The type of protective field mask you have purchased
is the civilian issue, Israeli type with canister filter.
3a. The Israeli Gas Mask: (Note: the inlet plug and enclosure cap must
be removed and discarded for the canister to be effective.) As you inhale,
the air first passes through the canister, which contains a purifying
system consisting of a mechanical filter and chemical filling. The mechanical
filter clears the air by trapping tiny solid and liquid particles (in
the form of aerosols). Then the chemical filling receives the air and
absorbs (condenses and holds) the toxic vapors. Charcoal is used in
the filter, because it is a powerful absorbent. After the air is purified
by the canister, it passes into your face piece, where it is inhaled.
Exhaled air is expelled from the facepiece through an outlet valve,
which opens to allow this air to escape. This canister mask has two
(2) major parts: facepiece assembly and the canister filter.
4. Correct Fit and Adjustment are Important: You know that toxic chemical
agents, such as nerve gas, are very deadly. Biological agents may be
equally dangerous even though they do not cause immediate irritation
and do not produce immediate symptoms. For you to stop breathing and
put on a mask upon suspicion of a biological agent aerosol is not enough
to keep those agents out of your body. Your mask must fit your head
and face so that it will be airtight when you have properly donned it.
Many individuals make the mistake of pulling the straps too tight. Correct
adjustment does not mean an extremely tight fit, but rather a close
fit. Individuals with full beards may believe that they cannot get a
good airtight seal unless they shave - this is a myth! In fact, individuals
with full beards are able to obtain a better seal than those who shave,
a fact which has been proven time and time again - by the Russians.
4a. Putting on the Mask - Speed vs. Airtight Seal: You may ask which
has the greater importance, speed or the airtight seal. Both are absolutely
necessary. You must become expert, both in putting on the mask and getting
an airtight seal in a matter of seconds.
4b. Tips on Donning the Mask: You know that, in your everyday life,
doing certain things in the same way every time, saves you much time
and effort. Donning your protective mask is no more compliacted than
putting on your hat - if you go through the proper motions and the proper
order.
a. In removing your mask from the box (or carrier),
always grasp it in the area of the nosecup, which is below the eyepieces.
Remember that dirty prints on the eyepieces will interfere with your
vision and will only have to be removed. Never remove the mask by pulling
on the outlet valve.
b. To put your mask on, grasp the facepiece with
both hands and slide your thumbs inside so that the facepiece is opened
to the fullest extent. Grasping the head harness tends to pull the edges
together which makes it difficult to get the mask over your face.
c. As you seat your chin into the chin pocket firmly
and bring the head harness over your head, be sure that all straps are
straight and that the head "pad" is centered, otherwise the
mask will be uncomfortable and may not seat properly around the facepiece.
Head straps can be best adjusted by a quick jerk or pull, rather than
a steady pull. Use firm and outward strokes to smooth edges of the facepice
while pressing them to your face.
d. Always check your mask: To clear the canister
type mask, cup the palm of your right hand over the opening of the outlet
valve - with your elbow pointing toward the ground and blow into the
mask with the air already in your lungs. Air will escape around the
facepiece, forcing any contaminated air out. To test for leaks, place
the palm of your hand over the air inlet of the canister and breath
in slowly.
e. Removing the mask: Unfasten the neck strap, grasp
the mask in the nose cup area and use a downward, outward, then upward
motion. Never remove the mask by grasping the outlet valve on the canister
type unit.
f. Take care to properly replace your mask in the
carrier. This is well worth the few seconds it takes. the next time
you have to take it out and get it on - it may be "for real."
Make sure that the head harness is folded into the face piece. Again,
keep your hands off the eyepeice.
5. It's Your Baby: you are responsible for the care of your protective
mask. In view of the potential dangers of biological and chemical threats,
it hardly seems necessary to explain in detail why you must take excellent
care of your mask (you should never carry the canister inside the facepiece
of the canister-type mask).
Water will damage the filter element in the canister
of your protective mask, destroying their efficiency. Use a waterproofing
bag during continued hard rain, and at any time when water is likely
to soak through the mask carrier.
In a personal decontamination procedure, take a strong disinfectant
placed on a cloth and wipe the outside rubber areas of the mask, then
remove your mask just before you step under the shower.
Provided
for you by BlueWolf Productions at:
http://www.bwolf.com
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