Gas gas gas

[Zander]

Hi all,

My first post so please be gentle... I'm not entirely sure if this is the best forum to post, so if not, please move it.

So, the genre of question is gas attacks but more specifically, countering them.

So, you've built a survival bunker and wish to protect it again gas attacks then what can you do?

Firstly you need some type of warning device. So what kind of device could you deploy that would cover most, if not all, risks.

Initially I thought that a straight forward oxygen sensor that would detect whether the level of breathable O2 went below 21% but then I got thinking... what if the gas deployed by the enemy didn't change he ratio oxygen in the air but still was a risk to live... is there a reliable way to countermeasure this?

 

[Brent S]

Hi all,

My first post so please be gentle... I'm not entirely sure if this is the best forum to post, so if not, please move it.

So, the genre of question is gas attacks but more specifically, countering them.

So, you've built a survival bunker and wish to protect it again gas attacks then what can you do?

Firstly you need some type of warning device. So what kind of device could you deploy that would cover most, if not all, risks.

Initially I thought that a straight forward oxygen sensor that would detect whether the level of breathable O2 went below 21% but then I got thinking... what if the gas deployed by the enemy didn't change he ratio oxygen in the air but still was a risk to live... is there a reliable way to countermeasure this?

I’m far from knowledgeable on this topic. Giving an epi shot is about as far as my treating gas exposure goes, and removing the affected person to fresh air. I figure I prep for most reasonable scenarios that I can afford to. This is one that is I believe to be out of my control. The military seems to have unlimited funds to prepare for such scenarios, just not me.

 

[tmttactical]

@Zander I think it is an area out of most preppers ability to defend against. I think the detection equipment alone would be cost prohibitive. Then add in the equipment required to protect against contamination and that would be expensive and then add in the air treatment / purification systems and I think you better be in the 1% income bracket. It is good to think about all the possible threats but at some point you have to prioritize the most likely and aim your preps in that direction. That is just my 2-cents. and Welcome to the forum.

 

[Maverick]

Question, how much money do you have.
CWA detector that's a Ion Mobility Spectrometry, something like the µRAIDplus and buy a book on Ion Mobility Spectrometry. Don't buy equipment from Amazon.

Good luck.

 

[Maverick]

Here is some info: https://www.nap.edu/read/6364/chapter/6#45

 

[TexasFreedom]

If you're concerned of such, how about going low tech?

Remember the old phrase "the canary in the mine"? Get some canaries! Put near various entrances. If birds die, there's your warning. Let me assume the gas source is from outside the structure. If there's a gas canister inside, well throw it back out. But the way to drive the gas out of the structure is two-fold. 1) high CFM exhaust fan; 2) Positive pressure. #1 is self-explanatory. #2: get some scuba tanks filled up. I'd prefer those over a compressor tank because a compressor tank might hold 150 psi, a scuba tank can be 1-2000 psi (1/10th the volume space needed).

 

[Kootenay prepper]

Unless you have unlimited money I wouldn’t start buying gas detection devices. My work place has a number of expensive monitors that have to be worn into certain areas. These devices require frequent calibration which can cost a fair amount. I like Texasfreedom idea going low tech bird test as technology is to easy to fail.

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

I worked confined space for years. Go to Amazon and search confined space air monitor, get one that does 02, h2s, lel, and co2.

Yes, for work they require calibration.

If you own it, are you worried it will fail to detect a few fewer parts per million?

For what's it's worth, I was in a steam gen aux oil tank, and the detector failed to register an ether induced oxygen depletion. Almost killed two of us.

Bottom line, when I have heard detectors go off, I could already tell it was time to go. Your not entering a space, and seeing if it's safe.
Your IN that space, and it's suddenly unsafe. There's a difference, imo.

 

[DrHenley]

 

[Squirtgunsquirter]

Besides, why a bunker? Nuclear war? I'm not being sarcastic, I'm curious as to the thinking. Bunker for nukes, if you are still inside, it's because going out would be death. Anyone outside while it's still unsafe for you to be outside, will be worried about other things, I would think.

Nukes, yes I want to have more than a culvert to crawl into. Anything else, man, I'd be nervous about getting trapped in there.

Also, what gas is going to be available? If it's a real, time for the bunker emergency, what gas are you concerned with? Car exhaust would by far be the easiest and most common deadly gas. Most other things I can think of, ether, propane, ammonia, aren't typically very mobile in quantities sufficient to kill you, at least I wouldn't think so. CS isn't really a deadly gas, and it pretty much comes in little spray bottles.

I'm imagining trying to gas a bunker... Engine exhaust definitely #1.

Anything else, I gotta drive to an industrial park to get. Probably use less gas to just connect the exhaust pipe to some pipe sticking out of the ground.

Maybe have a bunch of fake air pipes sticking up? That's cheap.

 

[Gazrok]

I'm with TF on this one. Get some birds, problem solved.

though really, this would be WAY down on my prep concerns.

 

[brandx]

Not sure I would worry about that one. I am only assuming that you are speaking of Sarin gas? I have no idea. Not prepping for it, hope I die quick.

 

[brandx]

https://www.gas-detect.com/protectected-sarin-gas/

 

[brandx]

I am thinking of an air filtration system, but most folks can't afford such things.

 

[Gazrok]

If it gets to that point, I'm thinking it's pretty much game over, lol....

 

[Maverick]

Though, needs a way to detect first before dawning the apparatus plus you need decontaminating shower set up, canary is fine but on most military grade lethal gases/agent any bird animal will also do, if you are close enough to a canary to notice the distress it's already to late for you unlike carbon monoxide or methane, cheap detectors don't go low enough to be effective for early warning and detectors generally act like field survey meter and generally someone has already succumbed to the gas/agent is the first sign or you see a field full of dead animals and birds. One also needs to know the directions of the winds. A bomb shelter will work if properly filtered and sealed. As far as chemical weapons, some just require a gas mask some may require chemical overgarment, some chemicals last for hours and days and others for weeks, some come in form of powders, spray, oils and gases, some you see some you don't. What are we dealing with?!?! It gets a little more complicated than just purchasing a mask and detector, MOPP ready? do you need a MOPP level 0,1,2,3 or level 4?

In my early post that's why I said 'how much money do you have' Chemical warfare is no joke and one can't go cheap

Edited;
Cleaned up the grammar

 

[Gazrok]

Exactly. It's one scenario that is a) unlikely, and b) just too expensive to thoroughly prep for.

Now, that all said, we still have gas masks, 3M face masks, and plastic sheeting rolls, duct tape, etc. But really, none of that is too pricey, and has other applications, so not a big investment.

 

[brandx]

Exactly. It's one scenario that is a) unlikely, and b) just too expensive to thoroughly prep for.

Now, that all said, we still have gas masks, 3M face masks, and plastic sheeting rolls, duct tape, etc. But really, none of that is too pricey, and has other applications, so not a big investment.

Prepare for what you can and for the most likely to occur. Try not to worry about the rest.

 

[Maverick]

In a Pandemic that plastic, gas mask and ducktape is good and more likely I occur than broad chemical attack.

 

[Gazrok]

It also serves for hurricanes taking out part of the ceiling, or a wall, etc. and keeping things somewhat rainproof, so not hard to justify the expense of those materials. That they are handy in a Pandemic situation, is just gravy really.