An escape kit is used in low-oxygen environments and was first developed for submarines. Early versions used airbags, but later ones used rebreather technology. Modern kits include masks, bottled oxygen, and rebreathers, and can have additional features like hoods and thermal insulation. They are limited to relatively shallow use.
An escape kit is an apparatus designed to allow survival in an environment that has very little or no oxygen. The primary use for exhaust assemblies is on submarines, although they can also be used in other situations involving low-oxygen environments. Early examples of escape assemblies consisted only of an airbag, which was generally not enough to keep a person alive long enough for a successful rescue. Later units used rebreather technology, which has also led to the use of exhaust assemblies in dry land applications such as mines. A similar device, known as a fume hood, can be used to prevent smoke inhalation during a fire.
The development of the exhaust assembly coincided with the early use of submarines in military applications. Initially there was no way to recover a crew from downed or malfunctioning submarines, so various methods were tried. A simple airbag was able to keep crew members alive for a while, though it often did not provide enough oxygen for the individual to reach the surface. Closed-system bags can cause other problems as well, as they eventually fill with air that has high amounts of carbon dioxide. When the rebreather was developed, it was combined with the old airbag concept to create something like the modern exhaust assembly.
The basic design of an escape kit consists of a mask or head covering, bottled oxygen, and some type of rebreather device. The purpose of a rebreather is to remove carbon dioxide from exhaled air using a variety of similar mechanisms, and then introduce additional oxygen from an external source. This type of device can maintain a limited amount of usable breathing gas for an extended period of time, increasing the chance of survival when escaping from a submarine, mine, or other hazardous environment. Rebreathers have also been used over the years by military divers, photographers, and others who could benefit from the lack of constant bubbles associated with SCUBA diving.
Modern exhaust kits often include a variety of additional features that can increase user safety. The mask is often incorporated with a hood which can help prevent the nose and mouth from filling with water. An escape kit can also be built into a thermal insulated immersion suit that provides protection similar to a scuba dry suit. The main limitation associated with exhaust assemblies is breathing gas, which generally restricts them to relatively superficial use. Deep sea rescue generally involves more complex devices such as escape pods or rescue submarines.
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