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The purpose of this page
is to provide you with the answers to questions often asked by visitors
to this site.
For information on any subject not covered on this page we ask that
you email us at info@citysurvive.com
and we will respond swiftly.
 Bird
Flu FAQs
Anti-terror
FAQs
Fire
FAQs
BIRD FLU FAQs
Is there a vaccine?
No, unfortunately there is not yet a definitive vaccine because the
medical experts need to work with the mutated version of the virus
(Common contageous Flu mixing with the lethal Bird
Flu H5N1). As this mutation has not yet occurred it makes it impossible
to come up with a failsafe vaccine although there are currently efforts
to create a vaccine based on the deadly Flu virus of 1918 which was
responsible for the deaths of millions of people around the world.
However antiviral drugs such as Tamiflu,
which are already available, may help limit symptoms and reduce the
chances the disease will spread although again this cannot be proven
until such a time as the virus has mutated into a contagious form
and is already spreading.
How long will a disposable respirator last for?
Disposable respirators should only be worn once and then disposed
of immediately in a safe and secure manner. Should they become soiled
or damaged they should be disposed of immediately. Local infection
control may add other requirements. A respirator used in close contact
with a known or suspected patient should be disposed of immediately
after use. Respirators should be removed only when the wearer is in
an area free of airborne hazards.
For how many hours can a respirator be used?
Respirators can be worn several hours unless the user feels some breathing
resistance. They should be worn once and then disposed of in a safe
and secure manner. Caution should be taken when disposing of the respirator
because virus particles may have settled on the outside of the respirator
if the wearer has been in a contaminated area.
Should everyone wear a respirator when going
out into the public domain?
There is no need to wear a respirator at the moment except when dealing
with a suspected or known contaminated patient. However it is advisable
to heed the current warnings from organisations such as the United
Nations and prepare now in case an outbreak of a contagious strain
of the virus does occur. At that time the demand for protection could
be so great that supplies of effective respirators may become strained.
Is there a smaller size of respirator for children?
Our respirators are not designed for children as they have been designed
for industrial and professional applications which are generally used
by adults. The most important aspect of a disposable respirator is
achieving a good fit so that it seals tightly on the wearer's face
thereby minimising the risk of leakeage. If the respirator does not
fit well enough to create a good seal around the face then it should
not be relied upon for protection against airborne virus and bacteria.
Can disposable respirators be shared between
people?
No. Disposable respirators should never be shared
Can respirators really protect you from biological
agents such as Bacteria and Viruses?
Respirators are designed to reduce exposure of the wearer to
airbourne hazards. Biological agents, such as viruses, are particles
and can be filtered by particulate fiters with the same efficiency
as non-biological particles having the same physical characteristics
(size, shape etc) However, unlike most industrial particles there
are no exposure limits established for biological agents. Therefore,
while respirators help reduce exposure to avian influenza viruses,
there is no guarantee that the user will not contract avian flu. Respirators
reduce exposures to airborne biological contaminants, but they don't
eliminate the risk of infection completely. The development of a vaccine
would achieve this result but this is likely to come some months after
a contagious strain of Bird Flu has already started to spread.
What is the difference between an EU certified
respirator and a surgical mask?
Respiratos are designed to help reduce the wearer's
exposure to airbourne particles. The primary purpose of a surgical
facemask is to help prevent biological particles from being expelled
by the wearer into the environment. Some surgical masks are also designed
to be fluid resistant to splash and splatter of blood and other infectious
materials. Unlike EU certified disposable respirators such as FFP3
and FFP2
grade masks, surgical facemasks are not necessarily designed to seal
tightly to the face and therefore air leakage around the edges is
likely.
How important is respirator fit?
Fit is very important. If a respirator does not seal properly to the
face, airborne hazards can penetrate or enter underneath the face
piece seal and into the breathing zone. It is very important to always
follow the donning instructions and do a user seal-check or fit-check
before entering a contaminated environment. A good fit can only be
obtained if the face is clean-shaven in the area where the respirator
seals against the face. Beards, long mustaches, and stubble may interfere
with a good fit and cause leaks into the repirator. Many medical facemasks,
not approved as respirators, do not seal tightly to the face allowing
airborne hazards to enter the breathing zone. Even those medical facemasks
that appear to seal tightly to the face have not been designed to
protect the wearer from airborne hazards. Therefore they should not
be considered an equivalent substitute for EU approved respirators.
Click
here for the BBC News Bird Flu Q&A page
Question not answered?
Contact us via the contact us
page.
or
Click here to visit a useful
bird flu information page.
Click here to visit a bird flu news page
ANTI-TERROR FAQs
What are escape masks?
Escape masks are designed to give you short term respiratory protection
to enable you to escape from the scene of a disaster involving either
chemical agents, chemical and biological agents, or smoke produced as
a result of a fire. Some of the gas masks also protect your eyes.
How does an escape mask work?
The filtering media in the escape mask filters, absorbs and traps airborne
contaminants before they enter the respiratory system.
Are the products sold on this website of good quality and produced by
reputable manufacturers?
Yes. We have thoroughly researched the market to bring you only those
products that are produced by the most reputable manufacturers in this
field. All escape masks marketed on this website are CE marked.
Will the escape mask or City Survival Kit fit in my brief case or bag?
Yes. The masks detailed on this website are small enough to be carried
in a brief case or bag. All our anti-terror masks are small enough to
fit within the City Survival Kit bag which itself is small enough to
fit within most bags or brief cases or to be clipped around the waist.
For more information on the size of each product please read the detailed
information describing each escape mask on it's 'product detail' page
which is accessed via the Anti-terror
page.
How quickly can an escape mask be put on?
The whole point of an escape mask is that it can be put on in seconds
allowing almost immediate protection.
Does an escape mask come with it's own oxygen supply?
No. Escape masks are designed to protect your respiratory system from
various chemical or biological agents or lethal gases produced as a
result of a fire, therefore buying you time to remove yourself from
the vicinity of a disaster. They are designed to be light weight and
compact enough so that you can carry them with you whenever you are
within an area which you feel may be high risk. Including an oxygen
supply would make the mask too bulky for it to be practical to carry
with you at all times.
What does the escape mask protect me against?
Each mask is designed to protect the wearer against a specific range
of chemical or biological agents or harmful gases found in smoke. Please
read the detailed information describing each escape mask on it's 'product
detail' page which is accessed via the Ant-terror
page.
How long will an escape mask protect me for?
There’s no single answer to that question. The effectiveness of
a gas mask depends on several factors, such as the hazard encountered,
the concentration of that hazard, the filter type being used and the
breathing rate of the wearer. Please read the detailed information
describing each escape mask on it's 'product detail' page which is accessed
via the Anti-terror page.
Question not answered?
Please contact us via the contact
us page.
FIRE FAQs
What is the main threat from fire?
Over 70% of fire related deaths are caused as a result of breathing
in poisonous gases rather than burns. The most common deadly gases
produced by a fire are carbon monoxide (produced by burning items),
hydrogen cyanide (from burning wool, silk, nylon and some plastics),
hydrogen chloride and carbon dioxide.
Fire also uses up the oxygen you need and breathing even small amounts
of smoke and toxic gases can make you drowsy, disoriented and short
of breath thereby greatly reducing the chances of successful escape.
How dangerous is carbon monoxide?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that interferes with
the distribution of oxygen in the blood to the rest of the body. Depending
on the amount inhaled, this gas can impede coordination, worsen cardiovascular
conditions, and produce fatigue, headache, weakness, confusion, disorientation,
nausea, and dizziness. Prolonged high levels cause death.
How long will an escape mask protect me
for?
There’s no single answer to that question. The effectiveness of
a gas mask depends on several factors, such as the hazard encountered,
the concentration of that hazard, the filter type being used and the
breathing rate of the wearer.
Question not answered?
Please contact us via the contact
us page.
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