[TheForge] The Beard vs. the Respirator

[James Binnion]

No face mask will seal on a beard. This was one of the reasons they  
quit allowing beards in the Navy. When you have a fire on board you  
need breathing gear to survive if you are to fight the fire. So in the  
early 80's they made us shave off the beards after a few unfortunate  
incidents where some one died.

Also as a side note several unfortunate incidents have come from using  
the Vaseline trick. Many of the self contained portable breathing  
systems on ships are what was known as an OBA or oxygen breathing  
apparatus. Imagine a high percentage O2 atmosphere in a rubber mask  
with Vaseline. Fire inside your breathing mask is no fun.

James Binnion
jbin at well.com