Hose (Air Line) Masks

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Rescue and transportation

Hospital Corpsman Revised Edition

Lifelines

Hose (Air Line) Masks
Hose masks are part of the allowance of all ships having repair party lockers. They are smaller than the oxygen breathing outfits and can, therefore, be used by persons who must enter voids or other spaces that have very small access hatches. The hose or air line mask consists essentially of a gas mask facepiece with an adjustable head harness and a length of airhose. Note that the air line mask uses air rather than pure oxygen. It must NEVER be connected to an oxygen bottle, oxygen cylinder, or other source of oxygen. Even a small amount of oil or grease in the air line could combine rapidly with the oxygen and cause an explosion.

Safety belts are furnished with each air line mask and MUSTBE WORN. Alifeline must be fastened to the safety belt; and the lifeline should be loosely lashed to the airhose to reduce the possibility of fouling. The airhose and lifeline must be carefully tended at all times so that they do not become fouled or cut. The person wearing the air line mask and the person tending the lines should maintain communication by means of standard divers' signals.

Protective (Gas) Masks
Protective masks provide respiratory protection against chemical, biological, and radiological warfare agents. They do not provide protection from the effects of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and a number of industrial gases. Protection from these gases is discussed in the section, "Rescue from Unventilated Compartments," later in this chapter.

In emergencies, protective masks may be used for passage through a smoke-filled compartment or for

Figure 3-24.-Battle dressing.

entry into such a compartment to perform a job that can be done quickly (such as to close a valve, secure a fan, or de-energize a circuit). However, they provide only limited protection against smoke. The length of time you can remain in a smoke-filled compartment depends on the type of smoke and its concentration. The most important thing to remember about protective masks is that they do not manufacture or supply oxygen. They merely filter the air as it passes through the canister.