The Sword and Laser discussion

I wore a respirator at work the other day and thought of this book the entire time.

Yeah, when I've listened to this book (I'm not quite halfway through the audiobook), I've thought about when I've had to use breathing protection at work, or when I'm getting knocked out for surgery (I've had a lot of them).

I work in a mine so we are trained in using breathing apparatus for low oxygen situations (High carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide levels).
They are essentially gas masks that turn unbreathable air back into breathable air using filters.

I also regularly use full face respirators in areas that are high in silica dust.

I was trained as a Chemical Operations Specialist in the Army and have had to wear a gas mask as well as MOPP suit for hours on end.

Yup, while in the Army. Mostly it was in CBN drills.

Everyone stationed in the ROK's assigned one, even children and infants (though they get specialized versions), in case the DPRK attacks. There are also drills every couple months in which the bases have to act like there's a chemical attack going on and active duty personnel don full MOPP gear, even while indoors or just to go to the bathroom. I haven't had to wear my mask in a serious situation, fortunately, but I do know how to use it and have to get it checked every once and a while to make sure it's still operable.

Much like you guys above I had to while I was in the Military. Unfortunately we still had the old MOPP gear with the charcoal lining that would stain everything whilst worn. Wore the mask for hours on end while doing walking patrols or sitting under desks to pretend like we were actually getting gassed. Those readiness drills made for horrible weeks.

Bonus to the mask though - I used to wear it when I cut into some really bad onions while cooking dinner. Worked like a charm for that. LoL.

In the Navy I was on a sub and we had to wear EABs for hours on end for fire drills and such. EABS were full face air masks on a tether. You had to plug your mask into an air manifold or someone else's hose to breathe. You had to learn to navigate the submarines passages in the dark or smoke, holding your breath between each air manifold. Talk about headache inducing.

Hated the MOPP drills.

Gas! Gas! Gas!

Put on MOPP Gear

Stay uncomfortable for hours in blazing sun.

Curse loudly at your officers and non-coms because they can't tell who or what people are saying when in full MOPP.

All clear!

Take off MOPP gear.

Curse at your officers and non-coms, but quieter and mumblier.

I work in a chemical plant, so I have to use filter masks, full face respirators and even full suits every now and then.

I make use of both half and full-faced respirators at my job. The half-faced are definitely more comfortable, but you get more protection from a full-faced (plus a distinct Darth Vader feel).