When it really happens: SHTF...

[Gil Boyd]

On my NBC course back in the day and the refresher not so long ago, the masks were either AGA SPIRO or DRAGER it had a constant air cushion around your face pumped by a rechargeable power pack on your belt.
Sadly, with anything Military its not cheap but it certainly gave 100% protection from CS, I know its not the same but it kept the pressure off the face tissues and would for these young ladies suffering at the moment.
The masks they have with double elastics were NEVER made to be worn for long durations as they are now.

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[oldpaul]

On my NBC course back in the day and the refresher not so long ago, the masks were either AGA SPIRO or DRAGER it had a constant air cushion around your face pumped by a rechargeable power pack on your belt.
Sadly, with anything Military its not cheap but it certainly gave 100% protection from CS, I know its not the same but it kept the pressure off the face tissues and would for these young ladies suffering at the moment.
The masks they have with double elastics were NEVER made to be worn for long durations as they are now.

I am a retired Respiratory Therapist and my wife is still an ICU primary RT here in south Puget Sound. What you were using sounds similar to the PAPR (powered air purifying respirators) that consists of a hood with an integral shoulder apron that filters room air through a HEPA filter/fan unit affixed to your scrub pants. When I was working it was most often used for TB rule outs and potential or actual airborne MERSA patients. The hoods are reusable to a degree but require careful disinfecting between uses and since there is currently a shortage of all personal protection equipment, hoods are shared between MDs, RNs and RTs. As I am overly fond of my wife I spent some serious time on line and on the phone to finally find three new PAPR hoods for $240 plus shipping which is not a terribly high price all things considered. These hoods are probably the cheapest component of the PAPR system and I think medical equipment prices compare favorably (unfavorably) with military costs. Nonetheless, as you suggest, price and availability are out of reasonable reach for most of us. Best. Tom