Abstract: A surgical suit includes a hood fitted loosely about the user's head and a gown fitted loosely about the user's body. The hood has a large visor through which the user can see. A housing is spaced above the user's head and underneath the hood. The housing carries a substantial portion of the weight of the hood. The housing is supported above the user's head by means of vertically extending support rods that are connected to a backpack. A fan is disposed in the housing, as well as an optional thermoelectric module. An exhaust fan is included as part of the backpack. The fan in the housing causes air to be drawn through a filter and then flowed past the user's face. The fan in the backpack causes air to be drawn downwardly from around the user's upper body and exhausted from the gown through a filter.