M1 Infant Protector : US Office of Civil Defence

The M1 Infant Protector is a bag made of dark green rubberised fabric. The open end can be sealed by a drawstring which passes through a series of cotton webbing loops. The top of the bag is shaped for the infant's head, and contains a 17 x 20 cm acetate viewing port. On the left hand side of the head section is a reinforced 6 cm opening for the air pump (not present). A cardboard tag attached to a loop of twine on the right hand shoulder of the bag reads: 'USE AND CARE OF INFANT PROTECTOR, MI What To Do When Gas Alarm Sounds
Placing Infant Into Bag Place infant, head first, into bag until its face is visible through the window. Pull drawstring tight, loop cord twice around puckered bottom of bag and knot securely. Fold over any excess length of bag below infant's feet and tie with excess drawstring. Begin bellows operation. Fiber board hoop may be placed thru loop straps to aid in keeping window away from face. Tie in place at front and back loop. BELLOWS OPERATION - IMPORTANT OPERATE BELLOWS AT RATE OF NOT LESS THAN 50 STROKES OVER 5 MINUTE PERIOD. DANGER - DO NOT LEAVE INFANT IN BAG FOR LONGER THAN 10 MINUTES WITHOUT OPERATING BELLOWS AS INDICATED ABOVE. HANG ON WALL IN CONVENIENT PLACE'. The reverse of the tag reads; 'Inspection and Maintenance Storage Unfold protector and thread fiber board hoop through loops at head end of bag. Fasten open ends of hoop with cord provided. Suspend protector in upright position from a clothes hanger by means of loops at head end of bag and support weight of canister by means of a string suspended from hanger. Hang in cool, dark place. Cleaning If protector becomes soiled, clean with damp soapy cloth and hang from clothes hanger indoors until dry. Inspection and Repair Inspect protector periodically for snags, tears, loose connections, plies of material sticking together or weakness of fabric at crease lines. Leaks resulting from above causes may be repaired with adhesive tape, by patching with household cement or by sewing.'

The M1 Infant Protector was designed by the United States Office of Civil Defence in the early 1940s. It was intended to provide gas protection for very young children who were unable to fit their own respirator or inhale a great enough volume of air to overcome the resistance of a standard gas mask filter. The M1 was a Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) comprising an impermeable rubber coated fabric bag with an acetate viewing port at the top and a drawstring closure sealing the bottom. An external hoop made of fiber board was provided to hold the bag away from the infant's face, and air was supplied by an adult operating a bellows-style pump. The pump required approximately 15 strokes per minute in order to supply an adequate volume of air through the fitted M1 Training Filter. The hoop, pump and filter are all absent from this example. The M1 was replaced after the war by the more advanced vinyl M2 Infant Protector, which was a larger, tent-like structure.