14 DAY TRIAL // Where is the gas mask when you need it? On the shelf of course, nobody carries heavy gas masks and hoods with them all day, even though there is a good chance that they would need them in their business. Most of the time, chemical and biological attacks are accidental. However, when an individual is located in a certain place at a certain time during the incident, it is clear that the coincidence factor can be ruled out.
DHS Science and Technology Directorate put the problem in a very simple manner. They required an emergency hood that would weigh under half a kilogram and that could be folded to the size of a typical DVD case and put into use in less than ten seconds. Additionally, the emergency hood would need to be maintenance-free and filter out any nerve, blood, blister agents and toxic industrial chemicals. No sooner said than done.
The contractor, Avon Protection Systems, created in less than a year the Escape Hood 15-minutes, an innovative gas mask no thicker than two centimeters, able to provide with 15 minutes of protection against chemical and biological agents with the help of highly efficient particulate filters and a shelf life of three years.
After passing the S&T Design Review in October 2007 and the Critical Design Review in the month of February this year, EH-15 was subjected to a rigorous test process in March. Mass production is expected to begin somewhere in April or May this year.
"Crime in this country has indeed included weapons of mass destruction; witness the anthrax attacks in 2001," says S&T's Program Manager for EH-15, Jalal Mapar, while referring to the anthrax envelope mail crisis in the US. "A concealable escape hood like this will provide protection for both the guard and his protectee until both can get out of a dangerous situation. It was one though assignment, but I'm glad that we here at S&T were able to develop such a unique mask technology in such a short time."
