This
article and video discuss the importance of having quality respirators for the
use of emergency workers. The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in
2001 were a perfect example of rescue workers who were not prepared for the
disaster. The smoke, dust and other pollution in the air caused difficulty to
breathe and some peoples respirator masks did not work or did not suffice,
resulting in sickness and sometimes death. In the article, Anthony DePalma said
the following about masks used during the rescue and cleanup of 9/11, “The
masks were so cumbersome and uncomfortable that many yanked them off and left
them hanging around their necks”(DePalma). For those reason, new masks are
being engineered to make sure nothing of the sort happens again. The article
also discusses the future of respirator masks and how the future holds much
higher technology that will keep people using the masks safe and out of harms
way in case of disaster.
I found this article to be fascinating.
It really blew my mind that older respiratory masks were so uncomfortable that
people would rather breathe the ashes and filthy air than wear them. The thing
that really got me was that this vital piece of equipment was so overlooked and
it may have ended up costing people their lives. The progress on the respirator
masks gives hope that the next time a catastrophe is upon the US, or any person
for that matter, and they need an oxygen respirator mask, it will be available
and effective.
Source: DePalma,
Anthony. "Improving Respirator Masks to Put Fresh Air in Reach." New
York Times. N.p., 9 Sept. 2013. Web. 16 Sept. 2013.
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