CNBC  -  STEALS & DEALS

    In 1993, shortly after the first World Trade Center attack, many products, professing to be “smoke hoods” flooded the US market.  
    Most were useless as true respiratory protection, but were selling widely as frightened folks attempted to prepare themselves.  
    Deceptive sales practices were allowed, because no government standard existed to rate such devices.

    At that time, CNBC was airing Steal & Deals, a show whose purpose was to investigate products and services to see if they
    delivered as advertised (an original "Keeping Them Honest" concept).  Host of the show, Janice Lieberman, contacted SmokeSafe
    Corporation, US Distributor of the Dräger PARAT C smoke hood, and invited our participation.

    Of all choices, only the PARAT C had serious defense against CO, Carbon Monoxide.
    SmokeSafe, with strong ties to the Fire Service, due to previous testing, assisted with arrangements.  Location of filming was the
    Rockland County, NY Fire Training Academy.

    Below are photos taken that day.   
Early check of materials and procedure.
Janice and the Steals & Deals crew arrive.
    SmokeSafe President, Frances Morton and
    Karen Nelson - together, conducted over a dozen such
    demonstrations of the Dräger PARAT C in
    Fire Training  smoke chambers across the United States.  
    In order to accurately test the intake level of toxic
    gases during time in the chamber, blood samples
    are taken, by medical team standing by, before and
    after exposure.
    After waiting for atmosphere inside the chamber  to reach
    lethal levels, fire professionals accompany participants,
    wearing different hoods into the smokehouse. Most
    manufacturers declined to be tested in genuine smoke
    conditions and on film.  Karen Nelson participated,
    wearing the Dräger PARAT C.

    Two other "smoke hoods" agreed to be tested.  One model had a very similar appearance
    (smaller, lighter, film hood)  to the Phoenix Hood, tested in 2002.  
    The manufacturers of both other brands, however, would not allow their own, willing
    employee (or any civilian) to wear their hoods in the chamber.
    These hoods were worn by Firefighters, accustomed to a dangerous atmosphere.

    Those two Firefighters were out of the chamber in under 3 minutes, and were shown to
    have elevated levels of CO in their blood.  Those who wore the Dräger PARAT C stayed in
    for over 20 minutes, with virtually no increase in CO levels.  

Karen Nelson and Frances Morton are eternally grateful
to all the Fire Chiefs across the States and the years,
who  furthered the cause for civilian education and  personal protection,
by agreeing to administer tests and demonstrations of equipment in genuine smoke conditions.  

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