It’s 2 AM and you are snug in your bed with only a couple of hours to go till the end of your shift.  The lights come on and you hope that it is a run for whatever apparatus you are not assigned to this shift.  You hear the words “house fire” somewhere in the rambling over the radio.  Sprinting into the apparatus bay you are reminded of the 40 degree weather that awaits you outside the apparatus doors.  As you try to wipe the sleep out of your eyes, while donning your gear, you can see the dark column of smoke against the crisp night sky.  It’s time to earn your money!

You somehow managed to be fully bunkered out before you hear the setting of the air break.  With SCBA ready, you open the door ready to perform. Only one problem, you cannot see your hand in front of your face.  Once again your mask has fogged with the abrupt changing of the temperature.  If it fogged on the outside you could easily wipe it off with your hand.  Unfortunately this fog is on the inside of your mask.  You try the one finger sweep through the 3 inch hole in your mask, only to give you a small clear patch at the bottom of your mask.  You now tilt your head up 90 degrees to place that small clear spot where you can see.  As usual this not  very effective.  So you bounce around the scene like Laurel and Hardy until you find your way to the burning house.  

We have all been there!  Over the years I have tried every commercial defog available with no satisfying outcome.  Some work better than others, but they all have to be reapplied after every use.  Maskview promises to eliminate this problem.  It has been tried and tested with firefighters for the past year with incredible results.

Maskview is constructed with the strongest commercially manufactured magnet available to date.  The Neodymium Rare Earth magnet can withstand high temperatures associated with firefighting.  It is covered in corrosion proof material to withstand weathering.  Place the magnets with the soft felt against the lens.  This soft felt is guaranteed not to add any scratches to your mask.  Store the magnet to the side of your preference until ready to use.

The size of Maskview has been carefully considered to allow easy grabbing with a gloved hand.  But, it is small enough not to obstruct your vision.  Move Maskview back and forth across your mask until you have cleared it.  Generally this is accomplished in 2 to 3 swipes.  When you are done place Maskview back to its original position

Robert Carnes

Maskview

Houston Firefighter