I heard some terrible news yesterday. A friend and his wife had a daughter in her late teens or early 20's, I don't recall exactly which. She was severely asthmatic, and had been so from an early age. They were driving through Arizona and New Mexico, heading for Texas, when they encountered a very heavy dust storm, which reduced visibility so much that they had to stop on the roadside. Unfortunately there was also a brush fire in the area, driven by the fierce winds of the dust storm. To make matters worse, their vehicle's ventilation system malfunctioned, letting in the smoke and dust. The combination caused their daughter to suffer an asthma attack. They tried to call for help, but the poor visibility and road conditions prevented any from reaching them before their daughter went into cardiac arrest.
My friend is understandably distraught after that experience, as is his wife. However, he's trying to make it count for something positive by passing the word to everyone he knows that such conditions - or combinations of conditions - can be extremely dangerous to an asthmatic, or indeed anyone with any sort of breathing difficulties such as COPD, etc. Since both my wife and I have breathing-related issues, he made sure to call me and tell me the sad news.
No sooner had I ended the call than I drove to the nearest Harbor Freight branch and bought four of these Gerson P95 disposable respirators, two in Medium size (to fit my wife) and two Large (to fit me).
One of each size will go into our vehicle emergency kits, to travel with us wherever we go. They're disposable, so they're not very high-tech, but they'll do for the sort of incident my friend and his family encountered; and they're low-cost enough that we can afford to replace them every year, to make sure they're still functional.
There are other respirators out there, some a lot more capable - and more expensive - but they're probably overkill for use as emergency travel aids. Shop around. However, I don't think the simple paper or cloth masks we used during the COVID imbroglio, or even the stiffer painting-style masks, will be as effective as this design, with its close-fitting face mask and external filters. I'd rather spend a bit extra for better protection.
In the hope that my friend's tragic loss may help others besides his friends and acquaintances, I share the news with you, and the solution I've adopted. If any of you suffer from, or have family and/or friends who suffer from, breathing-related issues, I strongly recommend that you do something similar to make your travels a little safer.
Peter
19 comments:
CAVEAT: If you rock facial hair, pack some disposable razors alongside your masks. Maybe some small scissors from a travel sewing kit for deforestation if you are REALLY bushy.
Thank you for this very unfortunate information — I immediately forwarded this to a friend who has COPD. Your friend is saving many lives.
That's a heart-rending story and my deepest feelings of compassion go out to that father upon the loss of his daughter.
If someone in my family had severe breathing-related problems, I'd be looking into adapting a cylinder of the mixed gases used for diving placed in the trunk/bed of the family vehicle, what I call JIC (just in case) insurance.
Re the parents, I hope they can find peace or at least serenity.
The masks aren't a bad idea, but. Even a cheap mask needs to fit properly, so be sure to test it first. For men, also, they are a lot less effective if they guy has a beard, or even heavy stubble. Sometimes this can be helped by applying something like Vaseline around the perimeter of the mask before putting it on, but clean-shaven is best.
My closest Harbor Freight is in a not-safe part of the nearest city, so I have this bookmarked for when the masks are available online (April 15th). Hubby has COPD, and I have an undiagnosed issue with my lungs (they're working on it), so I'll be picking up a set for each vehicle. Fortunately, dust storms are rare in Florida, and it's been too wet lately for fires, so I think we're safe waiting until I can buy online.
You know, that's probably sound advice for anyone, not just people with breathing difficulties. Especially if you live in or travel through areas prone to wild fires. Those masks aren't expensive and they're not too bulky to keep in a vehicle emergency kit.
Besides, I'm on a first name basis with the employees of the local Harbor Freight anyway. I'm going to pick a couple of those up for our vehicles.
Thanks for the tip...and please pass my condolences to your friends, as well as my gratitude for them doing what they can to turn their loss into a positive. That alone shows great strength of character.
If you have a beard and need to seal a protective mask, it’s much easier to rub petroleum jelly into your fur than to drop everything and shave when it’s time to go to MOPP4.
Be aware that people with weak lung function can't wear those for a long duration
Please be careful with this advice. People with COPD or asthma should NOT wear a respirator without consulting their physician first. It is very dangerous and could kill you. Even a simple 3M N95 mask. Wife is a retired RN and certified 3M fit tester. I'm a retired RN that formerly worked at UT Health Science Center (a dedicated pulmonary/lung special hospital) and the Anesthesia Department at Scott&White (now Baylor S&W).
Damn... SO sorry to hear this, Peter!
The Coast Guard and Navy both outlawed beards back in the 80's for this very reason; a good seal wasn't achievable on any kind of face mask; OBA, gas mask, or the like. I'm not sure about the other services. Best practice; if you ARE in potential need of this kind of mask, ditch the beard. If you can't get yourself to do that, then look into a "hood" such as this.
https://www.mypatriotsupply.com/products/ready-hour-fire-evacuation-mask?currency=USD&variant=39371614290013&stkn=a4702bdecb9c&g_acctid=738-967-2590&g_adgroupid=&g_adid=&g_adtype=none&g_campaign=BLP+%7C+PMax+%7C+All+%2F+Theme+%28No+NCA+55%2B%29&g_campaignid=22337376710&g_keyword=&g_keywordid=&g_network=x&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqIm_BhDnARIsAKBYcmu-j8h55I53aiuttjI3DQUvMLCvsz4zLS-bbCR29e7FxWPufdcDjEYaAtw4EALw_wcB
Easy to don; covers the whole head! They're made for fire escape, but will work nicely for this as well! We had devices similar to this on my Coast Guard ship, though they had small oxygen tanks on them and were REALLY expensive.
NIOSH rules assume a respirator won't seal with a beard - that may have been the case decades ago, but it isn't now.
I've successfully gotten a good seal with a respirator numerous times with my beard. I've even gotten a seal on a positive pressure supplied air system, which is supposed to be impossible.
Don't worry about it!
Jonathan
Your vehicle cabin air filter (if it has one, only one of our three vehicles does), is not intended to stop small particles - they are intended for dust, sand, and larger items. It is still a good idea to keep them clean.
Jonathan
This warning also applies to those who have been diagnosed with Non-wheezing or (new name)Silent Asthma. Weird condition, and the medical establishment doesn't appear to know anything about how it works. The only trigger that my relatives have found is mold contact. Combine this with wearing an N95 mask is asking for trouble! BT;DT, but I did survive, but it was close.
Thank you for this link. I do have asthma, and often travel. I definitely will be buying several of these.
My wife's co-worker's daughter, beautiful young girl, high school student, had a similar episode at home and died in her mother's arms. 911 arrived shortly thereafter. (big city, go figure). I would think that any asthma sufferer should have one or more "epi-pen" devices with them at all times. Unfortunately, the cost of these skyrocketed after a certain senator's daughter became CEO of the company that makes them and jacked up the prices. Sad story.
Peter, from someone who does this professionally I’ll respond in more detail when I get to an actual keyboard later this evening. I really, really hope you talked to a medical professional before you picked those masks up.
Learning how to perform an emergency tracheotomy might be helpful too, if you have someone who’s asthmatic in your circle.
So sorry to hear that.
We will pray for your friends, Peter, and their daughter. Let them know spreading the word on this will save lives...
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