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E M E R G E N C Y    E S C A P E    P L A N
Smoke Escape Hoods for high-rise apartments, office complexes and homes
smoke escape hood filter fire prevention personal protection

Practical Simplicity Works When Panic Strikes.

No one ever plans on having a fire emergency – but should that misfortune ever happen to you or your family, you’ll be better prepared with Smoke Escape. Three out of four fire fatalities are caused by smoke inhalation. Ideal for airplanes, hotels, high rise buildings, or homes, the highly portable Smoke Escape™ Hood provides a safe supply of filtered air for up to 20 minutes -- time which can be spent finding your way to safety. Laboratory Tested. One Size Fits All. Easy To Use.  (See below for efficacy and assessment test results)

   Studies show that the most important thing you can do to survive a fire is to maintain your source of breathable air. In just a few seconds, you can easily put on this Smoke Escape™ Hood (with 360 degree visibility) and breathe filtered air for the time it takes to escape.

   The number of people who die as a result of severe burns during a fire emergency are minimal compared to the number who suffer from smoke related injuries. 

  Are you an office or building manager? Do you have an Emergency Escape Plan for your building? Do you need a discount on a quantity order (over 50 units)? EMAIL
 

  
   As consumers, we have very little familiarity with the effects of smoke on the respiratory system or the eyes, because this is not an everyday occurrence. Being in a smoke filled room is much like standing in front of a barbeque or camp fire. During a fire emergency, smoke can get in your eyes, they begin to sting and tear, naturally you close them, become disoriented thus decreasing your chances of a successful escape. It has been estimated that this occurrence can take place as quickly as 180 seconds, depending on the density and toxicity of the smoke.

   The Smoke Escape™ Hood assists you in escaping such an emergency by protecting your vision and filtering out harmful particulate which can cause choking, possibly leading to unconsciousness. The patented filter will filter out particulate matter as small as 0.45 microns (carbon, chemical, biological or any other particulate that small) and that fact has been lab tested and is verifiable. 

The filter is made with a patented tri-layered, ionized construction-approved material, designed for respiratory protection against airborne particles. Smoke filtration is so effective that even tobacco smoke will not pass through the filter. Plus the filter offers low resistance to breathing oxygenated air.

How much would you pay for the Smoke Escape Hood? Be prepared for a pleasant surprise!  ORDER

S E E   B E L O W   F O R
EFFICACY  &  ASSESSMENT
T E S T    R E S U L T S
( near bottom of this web page )


THE SMOKE ESCAPE HOOD
A product designed for you and your loved ones.

ORDER HERE

The One Product We Hope You Never Use.
 

              Because we care, this product is being presented courtesy of The Freeman Institute

www.SmokeEscapeHood.com

        

     Yes, it seems a bit odd to be selling the Smoke Escape Hoods on this site, given what we do at the Institute. I am the first to admit it. Someone close to me had 7-year old son who was killed in a house fire because he was overcome by smoke and became disoriented, walking straight into the fire. 90% of his body was burned and he ultimately died. This made an indelible impression on me. I knew that if that young boy had worn a Hood, he would probably still be alive today. When I heard about these Hoods a few years ago, I decided to offer them as a low-cost courtesy to people who visit our site. We barely cover the costs/time associated with offering them, but it feels good to make them available.
                                                                                         Thanks 
Joel A. Freeman, Ph.D.

~ F A Q ~

--- Comment:
 
"Good idea but you can't stick your face in a fire with it." 
     Response:
 
This is true of course, but firefighters cannot stick their face in a fire wearing their protective equipment. 

--- Question:
 What temperature does the polymer melt at?
     Response:
 
155ºC (311ºF) -- Given that if you are in a room where the temperature is 212ºF, you're boiling like a kettle, at 311ºF you're dead a long time ago. 

--- Comment:
 "An oxygen molecule is the same size as a cyanide and a carbon dioxide molecule therefore if oxygen can pass through the filter so can cyanide and carbon dioxide". 
     Response:
 
No filter, at any cost, can filter out cyanide or carbon dioxide. While these substances are poisonous they are also odorless and tasteless, and not immediately irritating or fatal to ones eyes or lungs. To exaggerate this point, if someone wishes to commit suicide in a garage by leaving the engine running and closing the door, it would take well over an hour before death occurred. In a real fire you only have precious seconds to get out. You see it is the carbon particulate, yes little pieces of burning charcoal just like those in your barbeque but much smaller, which cause the irritation to your eyes and lungs. Carbon particulate is the real culprit in a fire, causing thousands of senseless deaths due to smoke inhalation.

--- Question:
 Does the Smoke Escape Hood filter out gases?
     Response:
 
No -- Since 3 out of 4 fire-related deaths are caused by smoke inhalation, gases are not the primary focus of most people who are looking for a simple-to-use device that gives a person up to 20 minutes to get out of harms way. Even though this is a morbid thought...if one wanted to commit suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning, it would take 45 - 90 minutes under planned conditions for one to do so. Most fire-related deaths occur when the victim becomes overcome with smoke, begins coughing, gets confused and disoriented and start walking or crawling...right into danger.

--- Question:
 Why no canister-type filter in the Smoke Escape Hood?
     Response:
 
The filter is made with a patented tri-layered, ionized construction-approved material, designed for respiratory protection against airborne particles. Smoke filtration is so effective that even tobacco smoke will not pass through the filter. Plus the filter offers low resistance to breathing oxygenated air. A canister in the mouth prohibits yelling for help or giving directions to others in the burning building. As we have already stated, "Simplicity is King in a Panic Situation."

--- Question:
Does the Smoke Escape Hood have an elastic band or draw string around the neck to keep the smoke out?
     Response:
 The manufacturer wanted to develop a safety product that even a person with arthritis in his or her fingers could use with ease. There is no elastic band or drawstring. It has been deliberately designed without the elastic neck band or drawstring to keep everything as simple as possible. When panic strikes simplicity is the key. The Hood must be grasped around the neck by the left or right hand, permitting the person to use the other hand for holding a child or feeling one's way through the smoke-filled room. An elastic neck band or drawstring creates more confusion in a panic situation.

Pus, if an elastic band were used for this product, it would have to be just the right size for everyone, from a child (with a small neck size) all the way to a professional body builder (with a much larger neck size). This would be impossible, unless different Hood sizes were manufactured. But even then, an elastic band, which may allow a person to get the Hood over his or her head, may not be tight enough to keep the smoke out around the neck. Which means that the person is right back to grasping the Hood around the neck to ensure that smoke is being kept out. As stated before, this Hood is a simple design -- one size fits all. Polls show that both children and the elderly can more readily use this method. It even fits easily over glasses.

The main point of any such device is to keep the smoke on the outside of the Smoke Escape Hood. The right or left hand instinctively knows the exact pressure that needs to be applied to keep the smoke out while escaping the dangerous situation.

--- Question:
Has the Smoke Escape Hood ever been recalled for any reason?
     Response:
 No...(unlike the Evac-U8 hoods, which was recalled in 2006. According to Ernst and Young, Brookdale International Systems (manufacturer of the Evac-U8 respirators) subsequently filed for bankruptcy March 2007.)

--- Question:
Is the Smoke Escape Hood certified or rated with UL or NIOSH?
     Response:
 The Smoke Escape Hood is the world's first DISPOSABLE respirator. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the United States does not have a rating for disposable respirators...neither does Underwriters Laboratory (UL).

  The European Union (EU) does have a standard. The Council of European Communities and their Council Directive 89/686/EEC, adopted Dec. 21, 1989. Performance Specifications EN 149 and EN 143 of the Council Directive for filter efficiency, are met by the Smoke Escape filter media. The Smoke Escape Hood is CE Certified according to EU Directive 89/686 Category 1. In the absence of harmonized standards in North America, we have conducted Laboratory Testing for filter efficiency (see below). The data is verifiable and available to the general public.

  Here's some more technical stuff: NIOSH Standard N-99 (which means filter efficiency) is at 99% at 0.3 micron particle size, is for dust mask configurations ONLY. NIOSH is solely based on configurations and not on FILTER MEDIA EFFICIENCY RATES. The filter media used in the construction of Smoke Escape has a 99% filter efficiency at 0.3 micron particle size. Therefore meets NIOSH Standard N-99. NIOSH regrettably does not have a Configuration Standard for Flat Sheet Disposable respirator hoods, only for dust mask configurations which you see in the hardware stores, and which DO NOT Protect the wearers eyes from particulate matter, as is the case with Smoke Escape Hood. Hopefully one day NIOSH will catch up.

________________________________________________________________
 

Smoke Escape is CE Certified according to and meets:
EU Directive 89/686 subsection G3.1.1

This product was designed to be easy to use, affordable and provide an extra few precious
moments to escape a fire. It was never designed to come in contact with open flames.

 

Real-Life Testimonial from Michigan

 

  On Super Bowl Sunday, 2002 I lost my home to a fire. We were home at the time of the fire and my husband and myself were able to get both of our children, two dogs and one of our cats out to safety.

  In all of the confusion of evacuating I realized that my brand new mini van was in the garage and i was not going to leave that behind. I went back in for my keys, looked back into the back half of my house and remembered thinking, "I will never see it looking like this again". I closed the door leading from the mudroom to the kitchen and started back to my van out of the garage. Within seconds I realized that one of our cats was still in the house. In less than a minute of pulling my van out of the garage I ran back into the house and opened the same door I had closed. I could not see 6 inches in front of me. The entire house had filled up with black, thick smoke that fast.

  I had purchased the Smoke Escape Hood two years prior. I had one in each of my kid's bedrooms, one taped to my closet door and one outside. I was able to take a deep breath and in all of the darkness make my way to the closet. I knew where the fire was spreading because it makes an awful sound as it travels. I made it to my closet, found the Hood and put it on. I could not see but I could breathe.

  By that time my husband and two other men were in the house trying to find me. I yelled to them that I was fine and that I had to find the cat. All three if them were unable to breathe and were coughing. Even when they got down on the ground they were still unable to breathe. Our house was a total loss but our cat did survive the fire and we were all grateful for a purchase I had made two years earlier.

  They say that it is not the fire that kills you. I can honestly say that this statement is very true. Some of us are not so lucky to survive. I spoke to my kid's school before a school play. All of the parents, grandparents and teachers were there. I advised everyone to purchase one Smoke Escape Hood for every member of the family and have one extra one to put outside. The cost of these hoods is so cheap considering what they can do.

  They say that the Hood gives you 10-15 minutes in a smoke-filled room. Speaking from experience you do not have that long. This is something that is so simple, so small, so inexpensive yet could save your life, the life of a loved one, or family pet. This is what everyone I buy for is getting for Christmas this year!!!

Ann Marie Hutchinson
 

 

California Organization of
Police and Sheriffs

February 26, 1999

       The California Organization of Police and Sheriffs (COPS) has examined the "SMOKE ESCAPE" emergency respirator mask and is very pleased to announce our endorsement of this fine product.

       COPS examines and endorses safety products throughout the State of California. We believe "SMOKE ESCAPE" will be well-received in the state and has a great potential for saving lives. We look forward to a long working relationship.

       Once again, congratulations on receiving COPS’ endorsement and on the development of this product which will ultimately save many lives.

Sincerely,

Monty D. Holden,
Director of Field Operations

 

   *For Travel: Airplane, Hotel and Hand 
 Luggage
   *For Home: Beside beds
   *For Work/Office: Hi-rise buildings 
 especially compact, easy to carry 
  *Effective 
  *Convenient to use 
  *Affordable 
  *Five year warranty 
 

*Replaced free if used in a fire  
 emergency 
*Filters toxic gases for up to 20 minutes 
*Recommended and used by fire experts worldwide 

 

~  A     M e a n i n g f u l    G i f t  ~

ORDER HERE

COST?
An Astonishing $14.99 Per Hood...
C O M P A R E

Others charge $30 - $160 for the same type of smoke escape safety product. Some of the more expensive ones have cumbersome external filters.

What are the lives of your loved ones worth?
What is your life worth?

The one product we hope you never use...


    These quick response hoods have undergone rigorous laboratory testing and are specifically designed to be a one-time use item, providing a full 360 degree visibility and easy voice communication with 20 minutes of protection provided for the escape. 

   The Smoke Escape Hood is endorsed by and used by many fire and police organizations throughout North America. The filter is made of a US Patented tri-layered, ionized construction-approved material. The Hood shell is constructed of .002 optically clear random copolymer UL rated "VTM-O" by UL Test #94. 

   We have checked out the alternatives. Other types of smoke escape hoods are harder to store, do not allow for easy voice communication during panic situations, less portable, are relatively cumbersome, with limited visibility and much more expensive.

    In dangerous situations all of the extra "bells and whistles" merely get in the way of a quick solution. This item is extremely portable and it can be used by young people and older people alike. No draw strings to mess with. In a matter of seconds it is out of the box, over the head and the person is clutching the plastic tightly around the neck with one hand -- running toward safety with as much visibility as is possible under the circumstances.

    Frankly, we were "underwhelmed" when we first saw the Smoke Escape Hood. It is small and just looks like an ordinary plastic hood. But we soon discovered that the "underwhelming" factor is it's strength. It has been specifically engineered to be easy to use. Under dangerous circumstances all the other fancy stuff, like drawstrings and extra filters, get in the way, especially for a child or a senior citizen. Practical simplicity works when panic strikes.

    At this low, low price, the Smoke Escape Hood is an “ounce of prevention” that everyone can afford. Get several to store throughout your house or to take along when you travel – they just might save some lives! This is a product we hope you will never have to use.


Smoke Escape is CE Certified according to and meets:
EU Directive 89/686 subsection G3.1.1
 
This product has never been recalled
(unlike the Evac-U8 hoods...recalled in 2006 and now bankrupt
)
 

 

____________________________________________________
T E S T    R E S U L T S
____________________________________________________
 

 

Technitrol Expertise, Inc.

 

 Project: 95-1199

 

Efficacy Test & Assessment

 for

 Smoke Escape™ Emergency Respirators

  

 

Project No:            95-1199                                                                   Date: August 1995

 

Re:                         Efficacy testing of disposable SMOKE ESCAPE™ respirators for fire
                   and smoke emergencies.

 

I.                   Mandate

 

On July 18, 1995 we were asked to evaluate the efficacy of SMOKE ESCAPE™ emergency respirators to particulates originating from wood and paper fires.

 

II.                Background


SMOKE ESCAPE™ is a disposable product designed to remove particulates from the air arising from smoke. Based on this information it was decided to construct an apparatus in which smoke would be drawn through the SMOKE ESCAPE™ filter, sampling the air flow before and after the filter and using this information to determine the efficiency of the filter.

 

It should be noted that this test measures all matter that can be collected on a mixed cellulose ester filter with a porosity of 0.45 microns drawing samples from before and after the SMOKE ESCAPE™ filter.

 

III.             Apparatus

 

A test apparatus was built, which allowed the filter from the SMOKE ESCAPE™ respirator to be placed in the flow of smoke being drawn from a paper fire by a vacuum pump. Samples of the smoke concentration, before and after the filter were taken by drawing an air sample through the glass tube and into a filter cassette containing a pre-weighed 0.45 micron mixed cellulose ester filter. The volume of air being drawn through the filter was monitored thus allowing for the calculation of the total particulate concentration.

  

IV.              Procedure

 

A SMOKE ESCAPE™ filter was cut out of the hood leaving a 6” diameter circle of plastic material around the filter to allow support within the apparatus. A fire was then started in the drum using rolled up paper. It was endeavored to try and keep flames to a minimum, thus producing as much smoke as possible. If there was a flare up in the drum, water was sprayed onto the paper.

 

Once sufficient smoke was being produced, the vacuum was stopped and the filters removed from the apparatus. At the same time the sampling pumps were started and the timing commenced.

 

At the end of the test period (15 minutes) the vacuum was stopped and the filters removed from the apparatus. The cellulose ester filters were then dried and subsequently weighed. A visual examination of the SMOKE ESCAPE™ filter was also made at this time.

 

Two preliminary tests and 5 actual tests were conducted.

 

V.                 Results


The data collected is presented in the following tables:

 

 

Particulate  Collected

Total  Particulate

 

Test

Number

Before

Filter (mg)

After Filter (mg)

Before Filter (mg/m3)

After Filter

(%)

Removal Efficiency (%)

1

4.1

1.7

273.3

113.3

58.5

2

0.9

0.4

60.0

60.0

55.5

3

6.7

1.5

446.7

100.0

77.7

4 23.5

19.2

522.2

426.7

18.3

5 46.2

10.9

900.0

363.3

59.6

  

M O R E   T E S T   R E S U L T S

     Melting Point -----------------------------------    -- 155ºC (311ºF)
     Tensile Strength ------------------------------    -- MD 2400(psi)   CD 2200 (psi)
     Elongated at Break --------------------------    -- MD 600%   CD 450%
     Tangent Modulus -----------------------------    -- MD 59,000 (psi)   CD 56,000 (psi)
     Elmendorf Tear --------------------------------    -- MD 100g   CD 180g
     Coefficient of Friction -----------------------    -- static 0.23   kinetic 0.21
     Haze -----------------------------------------------    -- 3%
     Gloss ----------------------------------------------    -- 80%
     Water Vapor Transmission Rate ------    -- 4g/100 sq"/24 hours @ 100 degrees F 90%

 

VI.              Discussion


It should be noted that the volume of air drawn mechanically through the filters under test was significantly higher than would normally be drawn through by a person using the product.

 

The filters appear to stop particulate matter, however there was staining of the filters, which leads us to believe that aerosol material (vaporous material which condenses on the filter such as tars, resins, etc.) is also being removed to a small degree.

 

The variations noted in the results may be due to several different factors including smoke density during the tests, which varied from run to run and the temperature of the air stream passing through the filters. These variations in temperature would determine the amount of condensate that would be removed from the air by the filter.

 

The efficacy of the hood is very much dependent on the seal maintained around the neck during use. If air is allowed to enter, the efficiency will drop significantly.

 

The SMOKE ESCAPE™ emergency respirator is effective in removing a significant amount of particulate matter and appears to also remove some aerosol materials. It should also be noted that it appears to also remove some aerosol materials, it should also be noted that it does not protect the wearer against toxic gases that may be generated during a fire.

 

         David Gordon, B.Sc.

 

------------------------------ A D D I T I O N A L   T H O U G H T S ------------------------------

The Smoke Escape Hood is the world's first DISPOSABLE respirator. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the United States does not have a rating for disposable respirators...neither does Underwriters Laboratory (UL).

  The European Union (EU) does have a standard. The Council of European Communities and their Council Directive 89/686/EEC, adopted Dec. 21, 1989. Performance Specifications EN 149 and EN 143 of the Council Directive for filter efficiency, are met by the Smoke Escape filter media. The Smoke Escape Hood is CE Certified according to EU Directive 89/686 Category 1. In the absence of harmonized standards in North America, we have conducted Laboratory Testing for filter efficiency (see above). The data is verifiable and available to the general public.

  Here's some more technical stuff: NIOSH Standard N-99 (which means filter efficiency) is at 99% at 0.3 micron particle size, is for dust mask configurations ONLY. NIOSH is solely based on configurations and not on FILTER MEDIA EFFICIENCY RATES. The filter media used in the construction of Smoke Escape has a 99% filter efficiency at 0.3 micron particle size. Therefore meets NIOSH Standard N-99. NIOSH regrettably does not have a Configuration Standard for Flat Sheet Disposable respirator hoods, only for dust mask configurations which you see in the hardware stores, and which DO NOT Protect the wearers eyes from particulate matter, as is the case with Smoke Escape Hood. Hopefully one day NIOSH will catch up.

__________________________________________________

ORDER HERE

The One Product We Hope You Never Use.
____________________________________________________

 

DID YOU KNOW?

Garrett A. Morgan (1877-1963)  --  African American Inventor of the Safety Hood

Because of repeated incidents of firefighters being overcome by smoke when attempting to put out fires in his hometown of Cleveland, Garrett Morgan wanted to do something to help.

In 1914, Morgan obtained a patent for his safety hood — a breathing device consisting of a canvas hood placed over the head. A double tube extended from the hood and merged into a single tube at the back. The open end held a sponge soaked with water to filter out smoke and to cool incoming air.

Shortly after receiving his patent, Morgan had a chance to put his invention to the test. In 1916 a tunnel was being constructed under Lake Erie. One night, there was an explosion in the tunnel. Three separate rescue parties entered the tunnel -- and never came out again. In desperation, officials familiar with Morgan and his device summoned him.

Morgan rushed to the scene wearing only pajama bottoms and carrying four of his safety hoods. Police and firefighters, having seen their compatriots descend into the smoky hole never to return, refused to go into the tunnel. Morgan, his brother and two volunteers put on the hoods and went in.

Morgan and his crew went into the tunnel again and again, pulling suffocating workers and rescuers to safety. Morgan even helped save the superintendent of the tunnel project by performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on him.

The feat gained much publicity for Morgan, winning him numerous medals and helping him sell his invention to fire departments across the country.

One of Morgan's other inventions was an early traffic signal, for which Morgan received a U.S. patent in 1923. View more about Black History.

 

Because we care, this product is being presented
courtesy of The Freeman Institute

 

 

"Dealing  With  People  Who  Drive  You  Crazy!"®
The Freeman Institute™ Box 305, Gambrills, MD 21054
TEL 410-729-4011      FAX 410-729-0353
EMAIL info@freemaninstitute.com

 

 

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