Reusable half-facepiece elastomeric respirators are the standard respiratory protection device in many industries. They provide an option for use in health care that has not been explored until recently. The durability and reusability of elastomeric respirators make them desirable for stockpiling for emergencies, where the need for large volumes of respirators can be anticipated.
Physicians from the University of Washington, College of Wisconsin, and the University of Minnesota wrote in a 2021 article in the Journal of Anesthesiology, “It is vitally important to be prepared for the next respiratory pandemic, which could occur at any time.”