As things to start to heat up in the Ukraine/Russia war more and more adults are starting to contemplate whether or not it would be necessary to have gas masks here. Whether it be from a nuclear strike to even a nuclear reactor meltdown similar to the one that occurred in Japan a few years back, there are situations where having a gas mask offers a little piece of mind with regard to survivability.
Yes, kids gas masks should be purchased especially if you live near a nuclear reactor but also because of the reasons listed above. But there are some aspects that need to be considered when purchasing a gas mask for a kid.
Another thing to be conscious of is setting yourself up to have ready access to gas masks when they are needed. It does you no service to have purchased a well-made gas mask only to have it sitting in the closet when needed.
Pay attention to radio and tv so that you can have an awareness of your current surroundings. `Read the Room’, if you live in an area where there is a nuclear reactor and the media is talking about a possible meltdown leading to atmospheric exospore, it would be probably be a good idea to have a mask out and ready to use. It would not be a terrible idea to have a spare in the car as long as the car is parked in a garage attached to the home.
RECOMMENDED CHILD’S GAS MASK:
Quick Specs:
- Can be used with a 40mm NBC / CBRN filter for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear Particulate protection. (Filter sold separately)
- Nice wide visor.
- Comes with 5-point head strap system.
- Weighs just over a pound.
- Comes with 40mm hose to attach filter down by child’s waist which removes weight from child’s head.
- Approximate 10 year shelf life.
Can A Kid Wear a Gas Mask Safely?
Yes, a child can wear a gas mask, but there are some aspects that need to be considered when purchasing a kids gas mask. A child needs to be of age and large enough to pull air through a filter. There is no set criteria for age of child as this can vary due to the child’s physical makeup.
One thing that often goes overlooked when discussing gas masks are the children in the family. You should definitely purchase kids gas masks provided they are of an age and size that a gas mask could be fitted to. As a general rule, if you are still pushing your child around in a stroller, chances are they are not yet old enough to be properly fit for a child’s gas mask.
If your child is age 2 or younger, you will want to look into a a full head respirator which comes with a motorized blower and attached hose.
What To Look Out For:
- Suspiciously cheap gas masks. A well-made kids gas mask will cost at least $100 or more. Anything cheaper is likely to be a respirator only designed to be used to filter out paint spray, or certain organic particulates (i.e. saw dusk) or gases. These are not suitable for Chemical, Biological, Nuclear and Radiological particles.
- Mask should have threaded insertion points designed for 40mm NBC / CBRN filters.
- Many gas masks will not allow glasses to be worn. If you can find a gas mask that allows for glasses this is a bonus, otherwise you may want to look at a hooded respirator/ mask setup.
Why Do Some Gas Masks Have Hoses?
Some kids gas Masks have hoses so that the mask itself can be lighter in weight and allow the extra weight of the filter under the child’s head to be offset and distributed to a satchel on the child’s midsection. This allows the child to be more mobile and carry the weight in an easier more efficient way.
More expensive kids gas masks actually have a battery powered blower attached to the hose. This hose will force air up the hose to make it easier for a small child to inhale fresh air once it passess through the NBC filter.
How Do Gas Mask work for Kids?
Gas Mask / Respirators work the same way for kids as they do adults. As previously mentioned it is important to make sure your child is old enough with the lung capacity to draw air through the mask filter. There is also the option of purchasing a powered respirator called (PAPR). A battery powered motor attached to both hose and NBC/CBRN filter blows air through the mask making it easier for the individual to breath.
Mask Fitment:
It is important that the mask fit the head and face of the child properly just as if he/she were an adult. Make sure the straps are loosened enough to go over the head easily and without fuss. Remember, seconds matter. You want to make sure the chin is seated inside the mask properly and that the nose is comfortably seated inside the nose area.
For most individuals the easiest way to put on a mask is by grabbing the bottom back strap with both hands, bend your head slightly forward and then pulling the mask over the head from front to back. Cinch the straps around the face and head snuggly.
If you have a mask that has dual straps over the top of the head, we would also recommend the inside out technique. This technique has you pre-setup your mask by pulling the straps over the front up the mask. With practice, this can be a quicker way of getting your mask on and straps tightened.
Steps after you have cinched down straps:
- Make sure that plug has been removed from the bottom of attached filter.
- You will want to test for air tightness by putting your hand underneath the attached filter and having the child inhale. If the masks tightens around the child’s face and sucks in, you know you have good negative pressure and an air tight fit. This is what you want.
Correct Filter for the Situation:
It is important to realize that not all filters protect against the same things. In the event of a nuclear attack or reactor meltdown, you want to make sure that you have a NATO 40mm CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) filter.
A gas mask designed for protection against chemical agents and nuclear particles won’t protect exposed skin. Should you go outside in a radioactive contaminated environment, it will be necessary to decommanite as best you can before stepping foot back in your household.
It should also be noted that your mask with NBC or CBRN filter will not protect against heavy smoke. Heavy to even moderate smoke will quickly clog the protective layers contained internally within this filter. There are other filters better suited for light to moderate smoke.
Other filters designed to protect against fumes from paint spraying, saw dust and other gasses are not suitable for protection in Radiological and Nuclear contaminate situation. These are often referred to as particulate filters. Particulate filters can be attached to partial face and full-face masks.
