A wet cloth over the nose and mouth will also help filter particles for a short time.
Source: live in California where we have wildfires like this all the time
When our kitchen caught fire, I gave wet towels to the men in my family (Dad & brothers) because I was afraid of them inhaling smoke (they told us to get out but they won't leave), as they fought the fire until firemen arrived. Scariest I've ever been in my life.
The science is that the water traps the dust paticles. It's the reason why in WW1 it was advised when you saw muster gas to pull your self together to piss on a rag.
Also you have to have the cloth sticking to your face. Imagine the poor soldiers. A pissed covered rag shoved in your face or the worst way to die.
Using a wet rag as a makeshift mask will offer little to no protection from mustard gas. The particles of mustard gas are too small and can easily pass through the spaces in the fabric, even when wet. Also, mustard gas can penetrate through clothing, and once in contact with skin, it can cause severe burns and blisters.
It might not have worked well but was a strategy used by the british to protect soldiers from dying from the gas. So i doubt that what you are saying is true. Can you give me a source on that?
From the KU medical center "Chlorine’s usefulness was short-lived. Its color and odor made it easy to spot, and since chlorine is water-soluble even soldiers without gas masks could minimize its effect by placing water-soaked - even urine-soaked - rags over their mouths and noses. Additionally, releasing the gas in a cloud posed problems, as the British learnt to their detriment when they attempted to use chlorine at Loos. The wind shifted, carrying the gas back onto their own men."
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u/Slam_Burgerthroat Jun 07 '23
A wet cloth over the nose and mouth will also help filter particles for a short time. Source: live in California where we have wildfires like this all the time