NCJ Number
207310
Journal
Police: The Law Enforcement Magazine Volume: 28 Issue: 8 Dated: August 2004 Pages: 46-48,50
Date Published
August 2004
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article describes the difficulties of performing police activities in gas masks and underscores the importance of proper gas mask training.
Abstract
Gas masks are often described as the most debilitating piece of police equipment. Yet they are often necessary to keep officers safe in hazardous environmental conditions. The physical discomforts of gas masks are described and include heat, sweat, and foggy lenses. One of the first and most crucial decisions for law enforcement agencies to make is the type of gas mask to use, which will depend on the type of operation and the likely environmental conditions. Gas masks should be thoroughly researched by agencies before purchase; references are offered. Once gas masks have been selected, it is crucial that officers gain experience with them by wearing them in training. Officers must learn how to perform their tasks while wearing the masks, which create problems with vision and verbal communication. Officers must learn how to aim and shoot with gas masks on; the author suggests that the easiest weapon to fire while wearing a gas mask is a pistol, followed by a shotgun. Subguns, rifles, and carbines, on the other hand, are difficult to aim while wearing a gas mask. Techniques have been developed to overcome the problems associated with shooting rifles or carbines while wearing a gas mask. Proper training with gas masks is thus crucial for officers who may be asked to perform police duties while wearing them.