How to remove a gas mask?

Content

When can I shoot?
Step-by-step instruction
Recommendations

Using personal protective equipment is a complex and responsible business. Even such a seemingly elementary procedure as removing the RPE has a number of subtleties. And it is very important to figure out in advance how to remove the gas mask so that there are no dangerous, harmful consequences

When can I shoot?

The official instructions state that you can remove the gas mask yourself when a reliable disappearance of the danger is detected... For example, when leaving a room where toxic reagents are used. Or with the deliberate decay of short-lived poisons. Or at the end of the degassing, disinfection procedure. Or in the absence of danger according to the indications of chemical control devices.

But this is done mainly by amateur people or those who cannot use the connection. In organized structures and units of the armed forces, police, special services and rescuers, gas masks are removed on command. They do the same if an extreme situation has arisen, and there are already people on the spot authorized to give orders.

In such cases, after making sure that there is no threat, the signal is given to "Remove gas masks" or "Clear the chemical alarm". However, the last command is given very rarely.

Step-by-step instruction

The typical procedure for removing a gas mask is as follows:

raise the headdress with one hand (if any);
they take a box with valves with their hand at the same time;
pull the helmet-mask down a little;
making a forward-upward movement, remove it;
put on a headdress;
turn out the mask;
gently wipe it;
if necessary, check the serviceability and dry;
put the mask in the bag.

Recommendations

The handling of specific models of gas masks has its own subtleties. So, in the case of the GP-5, it is necessary to fold after removing the helmet-mask first... With one hand they hold the helmet-mask by the goggles, and with the other they fold it along. The mask should cover one eyepiece, after which the helmet-mask is folded across. This closes the second eyepiece.

The gas mask is put in the bag, the box is looking down, and the front face is up. The bag and its pockets should be closed after removing the gas mask. Laying in other ways is also allowed. The main requirement is complete safety during carrying, the ability to quickly reuse. There are no other special requirements.

When using GP-7, the procedure is as follows:

lifting the headgear with one hand;
holding the breathing valve with the other hand;
pulling the mask down;
lifting the mask forward and up (removal from the face);
putting on a headdress (if necessary);
folding the gas mask and removing it into the bag.

Removing gas masks after staying in places infected with especially toxic substances and microorganisms has its own subtleties. First of all, fingers are inserted as carefully as possible into the gap separating the mask from the chin - while not touching the outer surface of the mask.

Then they become the back of the head to the direction of the wind and move the front part away from the chin. It is finally necessary to remove the gas mask in the same way - without touching its outer surface. Then the RPE must be handed over for processing.

It is undesirable to take off the gas mask in damp places.

If, nevertheless, this is inevitable, you should quickly wipe and dry it. When this cannot be done immediately, it is still necessary to carry out such processing before storage or wearing. When a knitted cover is put on the gas mask to protect it from rain, dust or to crawl, remove and shake the cover only in places that are known to be safe.

During military and special actions, the safety of places for removing the gas mask is established by order of the head based on the results of chemical reconnaissance. In other cases, they are guided by the distance from the source of danger and the time of activity of hazardous substances.