UNal Student Design Collapsible Gas-Proof Mask For Emergency Use

Collapsible gas-proof mask

A proposal from UNal students could translate in greater storage and transportation ease, decisive factors in case of emergencies.

The article is a mask which can be assembled manually from elements in a kit. The main element is plastic sheet (polyethylene).

Students think it may be used in disaster situations, specifically after earthquakes. The idea behind the mask is to quickly distribute as many masks possible to rescuers.

“The interesting thing about this project is precisely the above-mentioned idea and care taken transporting them towards disaster areas”, says UNal- Bogotá School of Industrial Design Professor Rolando Ruiz

“The Red Cross would deliver a collapsible kit which hardly occupies any space. The exact opposite of what happens with current masks. Masks don’t take up much space, which is crucial for transportation. Many may be transported in choppers, a container or a truck”, says Aidé Ospina, also a Professor at the School.

Professor Ruiz headed the project for Industrial Design freshmen Jonathan Camberos, Alex Infante, Daniela Hernández, Lucas Castaño and Daniel Serrato.

“Initially it was supposed to be an exercise in the aesthetics field, one of five dynamics which we work at the laboratory. It is a very suggestive reflection to think how to obtain a mask from plastic sheet”, says the professor.

Besides the aesthetic level, during the equipment stage we also worked sustainability, technologic and innovation dynamics as well as for the human being.

The project was presented in the last edition of Encuentre + Diseño Industrial (Find + Industrial Design) which took place last week at UNal-Bogotá.

The professor highlights that although it’s an idea still in progress, the mask is an outstanding project for the capability of students of looking beyond.

“This requires a lot of development as they are freshmen, although they have great viability component”, he said.