The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-11-18
MINES BUREAU
GIVES Warning
Army Gas Mask Not
Available for Many
Purposes in Mines

against the deadly gases mot on
IA battle field, does not protect
against all the gases or atmosDheres
epcountered in mines, in the indus,
Ties and in t%ire-fighting is given
81 the United States Bureau OF
Mines.
The dangers from gas that city
fHemen face and the need of stand
ardizd methods of protection
svainst them have been pointed ont.
ma need Of a knowledge OF such
gases on the part OF city tiremen
has been specially emphasized By
oyer-confidence In the capacity OF
fhe army type Of gas mask to pro
tect the weaTer against industrial
gases, an assurance that mas Prod
ably arisen because soldiers were
taught that the United States army
gas mask would protect them
against all the gases they might
encounter. This statement, true Tot
the battlefield but not true for all
Industrial gases, including products
OF combustion, has been brought
back by soldiers and spread general
IyEamong workers. Furthermore,
iity ffremen and mine operators
have been circularized with letters
and advertisements Of army gas
masks offered for sale by certain
persons who made unreserved
statements, probably through ignor-
Gnce, that the masks would protecs
wearers in mines and burning build
inRs. The falsity of these state
ments was evident 10 the Bureau
81 Mines, which took steps immedi'
ately to notify the public tina. army
gas masks had serious limitations
~sspecially when used in fire light
ing or in any place where unusually
heavy amounts Of poisonous gas are
present, This warning has been
verified by the actual experiences
Of some city firemen who have
tried army masks. On the o.her
hand the excellent qualities OF the
masks have also been demonstrated
at fires. =,
Whether or not firemen shoald
adopt the army gas mask for gen
nral.uRe has been much discussed.
Theoretically 1t would see that
the halC-hour OXyGen-h"eaihtnE an
paratus. which keeps out all gases
and supplies oxygen, wOnld be much
safer than the gas mask for fire
fighting. But practical experience
shows that tiremen. as a rule, do
not favor experimenting GpPara-
tue. To them It seems cumbersome
and uncertain In action. The comi'
biuatIon of oxygen cylinder. breath
fng bag. regeneraioT cHuister, valve
and pressure gage appears too COM
Dlicsted for the rough and reads
work OF fire fighting. Although
such apparatus has been on the
market for a number OF years, 1t is
seldom put into practical use, even
when on hand, at fires. Firemcn pro-
FER 10 take their chances unenGnm-
LbeEsd, or at most simply to tie 4
wet handkerchief or towel over the
nose and mouth to keep out some
of the smoke.
Therefore the utility Of the gas
mask must be considered from tho
practical point Of view rather Than
the theoretical. A review of the
many reports of tests in experiment.
tai fires by city fire departments
shows: That firemen are favor0bly
Impressed with the simplicity Of the
gas mask and will wear it: that in
the great majority of these tests 1t
protected the eyes and throat FROM
Irritating smoke and was u great
Improvement on sponge r~ospirators
and wet cloths; that the mask did
not cucumber the wearer or retartl
his effectiveness in fire fighting;
that no special training was re-
quired In learning how to use tho
mask; that in comparison with the
oxygen-breathing apparatus very III
Tie attention is required to keep the
gas masks in good condition.
These experiments by fire de-
partments corroborate the expert
ments Of the Chemical Warfare SET.
vice and OF the Burec.u of Mines In
proving concluslvely that the army
gas mask, when fitted with a can.
lister containing cotton filter pads.
activated charcoal, and soda lime,
effectively filters irritating smoke
particles, and, in addition, protects
against most chemical fumes In the
concentrations likely to be met In
fires.
However, in using the army mask
the following serious Limitations
must be kept in mind: It furnishes
no oxygen; hence 1t should not ba
worn into a place where a safety
lamp or a firemsn's oil.burniuT III.
tern will not burn; 1t should net BE-
used where there is reaso to sus.
pect carbon monoxide, as in smol.
dertpg fires in Easements and Other
confined, unventilated spaces, ard
especially in confined places where
broken illuminating gas pipes add
carbon monoxide to the air; It Of.
Rers very poor protection against
ammonia; finally, the army mask
may break down in unusually high
concentrations OF poisonous gases.
Il was originally designed for out.
doorus where the poisonous gases
are considerably diluted with air.
Canton must be used, therefore, in
going into rooms where the con.
centration of the accumulated gas
may be great enough to pass
Through the mask.
Perhaps the most serious limita.
hon ofthe army mask for fire fight
sing 4 sits inability to protect against
ammonia and carbon monoxide. Al.
though special ammonia canisters
available, commercially,