We offer collector gas masks - that is, masks that do not guarantee protective properties or ventilation during use. Also available are hooded masks that provide respiratory protection. Gas masks are counted, according to the definition of occupational safety and health regulations, among the means of individual protection. They are used to protect the skin of the face, eyes and upper respiratory tract from the harmful effects of many agents, including radioactive dust, pathogenic bacteria and viruses, and combat poisonous gases. Military gas masks are most protective against the latter type of threat. Military use occurs mainly during armed conflicts, terrorist attacks or during army maneuvers and exercises, when protective measures are used. Gas masks are also standard equipment for services, including firefighters or special units of the army and police, such as the GROM Military Unit named after the Cichociemni Paratroopers of the Home Army. They are also used in heavy industry, when workers come into contact with chemicals and volatile industrial pollutants, and in mining, where workers are mainly exposed to dust that is harmful to their lungs. A good gas mask should also protect the eyes and upper respiratory tract from smog, and other suspended particles in the air.
This is highly dependent on the absorber used in the device and the use of specialized filters. Here we come to the main division of gas masks into filter and isolation masks. The former, i.e. filter gas masks, purify the air contaminated with hazardous substances with the use of an appropriate filter, canister or filter canister - which is a combination of the other two technologies. Isolation masks, on the other hand, are adapted to be connected to an external air supply device, usually from a special high-pressure cylinder. The connection is made through a flexible tube, a thread in the facepiece or generated by a combination of special chemicals. This type of mask is most often used in the medical industry. A complete filter mask usually consists of three components, which are the facepiece, the filter part and a bag for carrying, transporting and storing the mask, along with additional accessories and equipment. Such additional accessories can be disinfectants, safety inserts, additional visors or fasteners. The facepiece is made of durable silicone or rubber. Its purpose is to shape the mask and protect the user's face. This part is also equipped with a threaded socket, which is used to mount a canister, filter or filter-absorber. In addition, it has an inhalation valve and an exhalation valve. Military gas masks often additionally have a diaphragm, which supports voice communication. Another component is a canister absorber or filter absorber.
This item is responsible for filtering contaminated air that enters the operator's mouth through the mask. It must meet stringent quality standards and norms that allow such an item to be approved for use. An example is the mask that is on the equipment of the Armed Forces of the Republic, the MP5 mask. It is manufactured by the Polish Przedsiębiorstwo Sprzętu Ochronnego "Maskpol" S.A. based in Zlochowice, which also produces other items of tactical equipment for the military, including bulletproof vests and helmets. MP5 masks protect against a wide range of threats and have a NATO-compliant thread, making them widely applicable in many undesirable situations and, after replacing the filter, will also work well during industrial contamination. A common model is the SzM41M gas mask, or the popular "Elephant." It owes its name mainly to the canister, which is carried in the bag, and is connected to the right part of the mask by a long, corrugated, flexible hose that resembles an elephant's trunk. It is now long out of production and, like the other demobilized masks, is not usable for its original purpose. Nowadays it has only collector's value. The purchase of a new, working and fully functional mask is recommended for professionals who deal with harsh conditions and come into contact with hazardous chemicals on a daily basis, as well as for preppers concerned about the possibility of such a hazard.
