A PRACTICAL METHOD FOR CLEANING THE A-14 TYPE OXYGEN MASK,

A-14 oxygen masks were wiped and then sprayed with aqueous merthiolate 11000 following each use and were washed with mild soap and water following each fifth spraying. Sixty-one masks were used a total of 456 times or an average of 7.5 times during this tabulation. Fortythree of the masks were washed at least once during this time. Some of the masks were sprayed as many as 19 times and washed 3 times. This method of cleaning the A-14 mask proved to be practical. Spraying resulted in a more complete penetration of inaccessible parts of the mask interior, than is effected by wiping the inside of the mask with gauze saturated with merthiolate. The BuMed Supply Catalog stock atomizer Holmspray throat and nasal atomizer No. 600 was suitable for this purpose. Thorough washing after each fifth spraying is necessary to remove crystals and solids which are not easily removed by wiping with gauze. Sticking of the exhalation valve which, in many cases, followed spraying the mask is not a serious problem since the valve is easily freed by a forced exhalation. Author