Defence Team News: DRDC helps military members breathe easier during training
Video / March 07, 2024
Transcript
I used to always dread going to the gas hut because it was… I was going to breathe in the CS gas anyway. It was going to be a horrible experience. So now, to have a mask that actually fits my face, that I can breathe, and I know that I’m safe and that I’m not going to be breathing in any chemicals, it feels great.
The trial that we are doing here this week is a trial on a new respiratory protection to include all CAF members, 100% of the CAF members. That includes people with beards, headdresses and hijabs. The main difference between the current respirator that we have in the Canadian Forces and the new respirator that we are developing, is the current respirator, you need to have a clean shave fit around your face and your mouth with a seal that will protect you. The new concept that we have developed, it’s a clean chamber around your head, almost like a N95. So, what we try to do is to divert the hair to go through the canister instead of passing underneath the hood.
The reason why I wanted to do this trial is to be part of the solution. I think it’s really important to make sure that all of our equipment is inclusive for everybody, and our feedback is going to be important down the line when the final product is going to be out.
Feedback that we had, it’s people that went to the gas hut and didn’t smell any tear gas or CS in the gas hut for the first time in their life for up to 30 years within the Canadian Forces. We expect to have the C5B ready for use next Fall. We have to compile all the results of that user trial, and then, do some recommendations for all the training facilities that will be done in the Fall.