Should You Add a Gas Mask?

\”Are YOU Ready?\”

Syria is hard to avoid these days, and the speculation about Serin gas use. All the chatter can make a prepper wonder, “Should I add a gas mask to the ol’ BOB?’

On the one hand, peace of mind is priceless. If a gas mask will let you rest easy at night, then maybe you should. Do you think you’ve made enemies that could use gas attack against you? Or maybe you live in a city you think could be on a terrorist list of soft targets. On the other hand though, and I hate to burst your bubble like this, but they’re not that effective. You have to know exactly which type of agent you’re wanting to exclude, there are different filters for different needs. You have to have it at your side the instant you need it. They don’t fit children. Some gasses and chemical will absorb through skin at high enough concentrations.

I will probably never buy one. One of the upsides to living in a small town in Iowa is that my chances of ever been gassed is vanishingly small. Distribution is the key for any “successful” gas attack. With population densities of only 53 people per square mile, it would be hard to get enough people exposed to the gas or chemical, most of which have fairly quick lifespans. I would have to drive an hour or two to get someplace where a decent riot could happen. But, if I ever thought I might get into violent confrontations with LEOs I would at least consider my options. A wet t-shirt wrapped around my face would probably cut a lot of tear gas, especially in the airy Midwestern cities. Perhaps not as well as a 300$ gas mask, but it’s a heck of a lot cheaper.

Are you living in New York or some city with a really high population density? You should move. But, if you can’t do that, and you find that you commute or work somewhere that might be a tempting target for gas attack, you certainly could buy a gas mask and carry it with you every day. You could fit it inside a normal sized backpack. I would think most people though, probably don’t need one. Save your money and stockpile some wheat and water.

Agree? Disagree? Sound off in the comments.

- Calamity Jane