chem and bio war and the role of gas mask?

H

hannibal lecter spyderco

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I recently read on this board that people are packing gas mask. I'm assuming that these are being purchased at army surplus stores. Why in fact there has been a run on them in California. I don't think its at all foolish for people to be scared of chem or bio weapons. Its a poor mans nuclear bomb and its quite easy to make. I'm sure that there are plenty of people out there who could make them and use them, but for whatever reason we haven't seen a lot of groups use them.

My question is this how good on the gas mask at these surplus stores? I assume that the reason the u.s. army got rid of them because they have expired! I don't think I would want to shell out 300 dollars for something that has past its effective use date. I know for a fact that those canster only have like a year or 2 worth worth of shelf life or so. These gas mask only protect you from gas not bio weapons! I also question the usefulness of against nerve agents, I would assume that those gases would just penetrate to some degree. Anyone have any training on what to do after an attack, I assume that you don't take off your mask because your probably covered with these agents from head to toe. Wouldn't you have to wash yourself off or something?
 
Go for one of the Isreali civilian/military gas masks. Those are the best. Especially, since the Isrealies have a historical/cultural hang-up about chemical weapons(and justifiably SO!)
 
The old USGI M17a1 was a good mask for its time, but it is definitely outdated and good fresh parts are scarce to say the least.

In my experience, Israeli masks are good, but vision is limited. They definitely work against OC, CS, and CN. I'm not sure if they're capable of working against biological substances.

There are plenty of new manufacture sub $200 masks out there to choose from, like the MSA Advantage 1000. The MSA is soft faced, so it will contort to the stock of a long gun, enabling good sight alignment/sight picture. It also offers great perepheral vision capability.

Mike
 
Unless you're willing to wear a gas mask all the time, it probably is of little use, at least against bio.

The big trick of a bio attack is knowing it is occuring before you are already exposed. And most bios have some incubation time, days being popular for civilian strike to achieve the greatest dispersion via airline transport to other cities. Imagine opening a vial of agent X infront of an air vent in a large and busy international airport. If it was an agent that could spread via an infected person, the scenario gets very bad very fast.

Phil
 
I`m not an expert.
But, if you`re worried about nerve agents, how about some automatic antropine injectors? Maybe some also some Fullers Earth? Of course you still need the gas mask, but..

NILS
 
Originally posted by phatch

The big trick of a bio attack is knowing it is occuring before you are already exposed. And most bios have some incubation time, days being popular for civilian strike to achieve the greatest dispersion via airline transport to other cities. Imagine opening a vial of agent X infront of an air vent in a large and busy international airport. If it was an agent that could spread via an infected person, the scenario gets very bad very fast.

Phil
Click to expand...

Ever read or played Rainbow Six?
A bio weapon can be more of a use during a big worldwide gathering, like the Olympic Games.
Bio seems more easily to make because the bugs or molds already in the air, just needs a little tinkering with to get desired results.
 
...............And the've got something, cause out satelite photos show large dead animals near thier camps.
 
Do you have a link to support this?? I wanna read what they have found...hoping that there's some other explanation for it, but can't think of anything!
:(
 
HEPA filter cartridges will filter non-viral bioaerosols. Chem weapon cartridges will handle nerve agent.
The problem is you just don't know when to wear them.

In reality it isn't bio weapons or nerve agents that you should be worrying about. All you have to do is look at the DOT placards on the trucks you pass on the roads to see the expedient chemical weapons all around you. If you see "poison" or "toxic" on that tanker trailer beside you that's what you should expect to see used to criple American commerce. There are numerous chemicals that are carried by the thousands of gallons at a time that will produce a toxic cloud big enough to cause the evacuation of square miles, not blocks.

So forget bio, it's not that easy to handle anything that would spread death throughout a city. And chem agent is only slightly easier to handle, remember the Tokyo subways?
 
I don't think buying a protective mask from an Army/Navy surplus store is really very smart for a couple of reasons:

1) The filters and/or mask may be no good.
2) Most civilians have no clue as to what size mask they need and they will not test it for proper fit (we used banana oil for our fit-test).
3) Without NBC detectors and alarms they will have to rely upon the symptoms and other indications to determine chemical/biological exposure.
4) Most civilians are not trained in detection, protection, and decontamination of NBC agents. They don't know how to change filters and MOPP gear in a chemical environment, or how to decontaminate your mask and gear if it is compromised.
5) Not many civilians will be willing to carry the MOPP gear and mask EVERYWHERE like Soldiers are trained/forced to do. And most civilians will not drill over and over and over reacting to a chemical attack like those in the military must do.

I guess it boils down to the fact that their is alot more to NBC protection than just buying a mask.
 
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