Air Resperators

[RedStaredRevolution]

http://www.aircleaners.us/air-respirator-316.jpg
me and my friends wanted to get some of these for an upcoming protest in case of teargas but then i heard from someone that these types of masks (that you get at hardware stores) don't protect against tear gas. is this true?

[Raúl Duke]

Well...for starters it doesn't protect your eyes...

I really don't know much about masks and tear gas.

[which doctor]

You could get a gas mask for pretty cheap at an army surplus store.

[RedStaredRevolution]

Well...for starters it doesn't protect your eyes...

I really don't know much about masks and tear gas.

well i thought of that and we're just going to wear goggles. but im more worried about breathing it in. ive heard if you soak a bandana in vinegar it helps but probably not as much as a filter would.


You could get a gas mask for pretty cheap at an army surplus store.

i would but i dont want to run the risk of getting one of those old ones that are full of asbestos. idk if they are still allowed to sell those. if not then i might just do that.

[Fawkes]

No, they don't protect against tear gas. I wore one for my work over the summer when I had to leaf blow inside 100 year old barns, but that is about all they will protect you from. Get an SGE-400 mask from www.approvedgasmasks.com

[Red October]

RSR and I went to the army surplus tore today and saw those SGE-400 masks, but we don't have that kind of money so we're going to get some for $40. They look used, but I'm sure they'll be fine if we put new filters on.

[An archist]

Is tear gas really that big of a problem in the US? I've never had it used against me in europe.

[Red October]

It can get pretty bad. The LAPD is very fond of it, as are most other big-city police departments. It's not necessary to have a gas mask at a demo, but it's a good idea, just in case the cops freak out, which they are known to do fairly often.

[Red October]

This is what I got: http://www.approvedgasmasks.com/3m-fr-m40.htm
It costs a shit load of money for the mask and all the accessories, but since I got it at a military surplus store, it came with everything and was only $50. It's the same sort of mask used by the US military, so I expect it to be pretty good.

[guerilla E]

Civilian filter masks have a slight/medium effect (according to testimonies) but you will still breath some of it.

Cheapest alternative is vinegar/lemon juice soaked cloth, swimming goggles, simple dust filter mask.

Military surplus masks are worth the money.

This is some important advice I think you can recieve;
Devise a hiding spot for the mask in your clothes that is easy to open/get to and ensure that you can rip out the mask quickly.
Learn to put the mask on in under 10 seconds.
Get some experience with tear gas (assuming that you dont, if you do all the better) because it can get VERY difficult to put a mask on if your actually inside the gas.
Adjust mask straps beforehands (needless to say some comrades have broken this golden rule and paid for it...dearly).
Understand that wearing the mask will make you a TARGET and if you are a group you may become snatch squad targets.
Practice running, moving, actions with the mask on - it can get very disorientating when wearing the mask under pressure and very tiring.
Spit clean the goggles. Stops fogging to a limited degree. Fog kills.
Mate, just incase keep a bottle of vinegar or lemon juice (both work) on you - especially do this if you want to help people (a masked man with vinegar in a gas attack is an angel with a bucket of water among hellfire).

[RedStaredRevolution]

thanks for the advice. i got a real gas mask at the army surplus store with red october. it just stretchs over my head so i dont have to worry about straps but the filter is quite big and heavy and it does move around alot which could be a problem. if i hold it while i run though its not nearly as akward and heavy.