Abstract: A breathing apparatus provides circulated air within a hood surrounding a user's head and utilizes active scrubbing to remove carbon dioxide from the air in the hood. The breathing apparatus includes a heat sink that provides cooling to the circulated air. A method for cooling air circulated within a breathing apparatus includes operating an air pump to circulate the air so that the air comes into contact with a heat sink to which the air releases heat. In an embodiment, a compressed oxygen gas cylinder releasing the compressed oxygen acts both as a driver for a Venturi device that operates as an air pump and as a heat sink.

Abstract: A neck seal for use in an emergency breathing apparatus has an interior and an exterior and is formed of an annular sheet of elastomeric material having a substantially central aperture for donning over a person's head. The substantially central aperture is sized appropriately for snug fitting around the person's neck so as to be sufficiently tight to prevent passage between the person's neck and the neck seal of fluid materials without choking the person. The neck seal is coated at least in part with parylene, to thereby prevent passage through the elastomeric material of NBC/CBR materials.

Abstract: A clear, hollow cylindrical tube having an internal circuit board with LED lights provides a lighting and flashing illumination device. The LED lights may either all be illuminated at once, or have certain LEDs with constant illumination while other LEDs may be placed into a flashing mode. The power source for the lighting and flashing apparatus includes either standard or rechargeable batteries and a 12-volt external source. The 12-volt external source may also be used to recharge the rechargeable batteries. The cylinder has an upper collar with both magnetic and hook hanging mechanisms. The rechargeable LED lighting and flashing apparatus provides much more illumination than a flashlight using standard charging and lighting electrical parts.