The story of the gas mask is a tale of science, politics, and the power of human imagination. Invented by Black inventor Garrett Morgan in 1914, the mask was originally designed for industrial use and did not see widespread military use until World War I. Despite being a relatively simple device, the mask was widely considered a key piece of equipment for the war effort.
The display features an exact replica of a gas mask created by Dr. Charles Macpherson, a Newfoundland physician who served in World War I as director of medical services for the island province and was demobilized in 1919 at the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. The display includes biographical information, excerpts from his journals and photographs. It is mounted on a custom-made stand, courtesy of The Rooms Provincial Museum.
Surgical masks and FFP2 induce small changes in pulmonary function and lead to slightly elevated carbon dioxide levels during high-intensity physical activity. These increases, however, remain within a physiological range and do not appear to negatively affect cognitive performance or subjective well-being. Whether higher carbon dioxide levels or increased respiratory work load during mask wearing influence other training induced metabolic responses and therefore, athletic performance remains to be determined. However, it is likely that the combination of mask wear and higher respiratory work loads might elicit premature fatigue in some athletes, even without evidence for impaired oxygen uptake. This may result in an altered training outcome and should be taken into consideration during the design of future face masks.