We’re entering one of the most frightening phases of modern American history, as violence between Iran and Israel continues to ratchet up, alongside the continuing invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Honestly, we’ve never been closer to the possibility of seeing nuclear weapons being used since World War II. With this threat comes the need for people to be prepared for a worst case scenario. If weapons of mass destruction are used, a huge concern will be the nuclear fallout from the detonation of the atomic missiles.
One way you can protect yourself from fallout is through the use of a gas mask. Before we get into choosing the right mask for your protection, let’s briefly chat about fallout, thanks to information provided by a piece published by Modern Survival Blog:
Will a gas mask really protect you from nuclear fallout? To a significant extent, yes for Alpha and Beta radiation within a nuclear fallout ‘cloud’ – which may spread far and wide depending on wind currents. Additionally, high-altitude fallout may potentially spread quite far. So if you’re anywhere within its path, you may be at risk. Think of Alpha radiation as dust. You can breathe it in. Once it’s in, you’re in trouble…
The ‘Rule of 3’ for survival (link at the end) reveals that AIR (breathing) is firstly the most important factor to mitigate. You might say that 3 minutes without it, and, well, not good… While inhaling nuclear fallout won’t ‘get you’ in 3 minutes, it certainly will get into you, and may eventually ‘get you’. So let’s talk about what’s the best gas mask for this scenario. Do bear in mind that gas masks provide no Gamma radiation protection. Neutron radiation is similarly unaffected by gas masks. A gas mask for nuclear fallout is not a magic bullet. There are lots of factors and variables in a nuclear situation that will impact your survival and plan of action, which are beyond the scope of this article.
With that said, Alpha & Beta radiation (in the ‘fallout’ cloud) will be stopped from getting into your lungs while properly wearing the right gas mask for nuclear fallout… and the right filter.
One of the first questions that needs to be answered is whether you should purchase a CBRN or NBC approved mask to help keep you safe from breathing in fallout. The former stands for Chemical – Biological – Radiological – Nuclear while the latter stands for Nuclear – Biological – Chemical. Both are effective so you can have either one.
Alpha and beta radiation is not something you want to breathe in, which is why these masks are essential survival items to have on hand.
According to Modern Survival Blog, the best product on the market is the MIRA-SAFETY gas mask. It’s CBRN certified. However, due to people being spooked by the current events unfolding on the global stage, these might be sold out at any given time. If that happens to be the case, you can also purchase a CM-I01 Full-Face mask.
Here are the specifications and features of the mask:
- MIL Spec Construction
- “CE” by the EN 136:1998 standard, class III and EN 148-1
- Durable bromobutyl rubber construction (meets CBRN protection standards)
- Full-face panoramic design
- Polycarbonate visor
- The inner mask prevents fogging
- Fits up to 2 standard 40-mm 1/7” NATO filter cartridges
- Pre-installed hydration system and canteen
- Compatible with CamelBak water bladders with a Type M adapter
- 95% intelligibility of talk
- 5-year manufacturer warranty
Another thing you’ll need for your gas mask is filters. You have to purchase filters that are specifically designed to fit your mask. You always want to verify they are CBRN or NBC approved.
Having these items on hand during a nuclear attack could make the difference between life and death, so take such a purchase seriously.
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