DEFENSE DEPARTMENT
3-in-1 Respirator Keeps Air Pure for Multiple Missions
8/1/2012
A German company has developed a respirator capable of working in both positive and negative pressure environments.
Dräger’s Hybrid System (DHS) 7000 uses a single mask to keep air purified for members of the military, law enforcement and emergency response teams. Users simply flip a switch to change the system from a typical gas mask to a powered air purifying respirator or a self-contained breathing apparatus.
The device allows wearers to adapt quickly to unknown hazards, be it chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear, said David Warnacut, product manager for compressed air breathing equipment. Personnel working in such operations or troops on lengthy missions now only have to carry one mask instead of three, he said.
“The DHS 700 is designed for situations where seconds could make a difference in keeping a person safe,” he said.
The system also does away with several electronic lights and alarms that were on previous incarnations, allowing users to move swiftly and quickly without compromising their locations. A communications attachment allows a microphone to be inserted into the mask and provides an ear speaker and a push-to-talk button that can be connected to a radio.
Topics: Land Forces
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