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Bra that doubles as a gas mask and won the Ig Nobel Prize is now on sale
By Brian FairbanksSeptember 27th, 2010, 4:19 pmComments (74)
The Emergency Bra, a brassiere that can turn into two life-saving gas masks for victims of biological warfare won the 2009 Ig Nobel Public Health Prize. It just went on sale via this website, which describes the invention as "an "Emergency Bra, Nursing Bra, Two Face Masks [and] Strapless bra."
The bra, available in sizes 32B to 40C, came as a result of Chernobyl. Seriously.
[Dr. Elena] Bodnar studied the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and found that, as Fox News reports, "if people had had cheap, readily available gas masks in the first hours after the disaster ... they may have avoided breathing in Iodine-131, which causes radiation." She also envisions it being useful in terrorist attacks. "You have to be prepared all the time, at any place, at any moment, and practically every woman wears a bra," she said. [Salon]
You may recall my write-up of another Ig Nobel winner on Scanner: the MRI sex tape.
Commentarium (74 Comments)
This is straight out of Get Smart.
Who do you know that would take off their bra were ever there are to use as a mask? I can see it now in a court room were a lady says, but judge, I was only practicing in case of a real
emergency.
I would take off my bra, if I were in a gas attack. and I knew my bra could keep me safe - you mean you wouldn't?
@Barbara Green
Why would anyone be explaining to a judge why they were using a bra as a gas mask? Its not illegal to be bra-less...
Anyone who attends the Burning Man festival would take off their bra and use it as a dust mask in a wind storm.
burn baby burn.....)"( )"( booooop boooooop
Wendy I agree I would definitely use this in a dust storm!!!!!
ahhh!!! what a good idea! i want one for my next burn now!!!
women who go to Burning Man wear bras?
Can I get some panties that do the same?
widespread distribution of these could lead to a LOT of "gas attack" false alarms
I will be to the next riot for sure, I can see it now.
Doubtless one of the bad girls in a future James Bond movie will be wearing this.
my husband heard me read this and said he'd have to measure his nose. ha ha
Won't work for my wife unless they come up with one in a DD size.
wont work for my 32f's thanks. I guess you keep a half a tiny bra in your purse, give your husband the other half of the tiny bra, and buy one for your kids to share. My 10 year old son would be freaked out to have to carry around half a bra, now my 6 & 4 year old girls would just laugh and be like um mom this is to small for you!
Just because they only come in certain sizes doesn't mean it can't go in your emergency bag. You don't have to wear it to make it useful in a dangerous situation..
The reason they don't make them in size 32f's is because they wouldn't fit snugly enough over your mouth and nose. They would infact cover your mouth, nose, eyes and possible your head which would be dangerous because people would then be tripping over and walking into lamp posts.
For those of you who can't get them in your size, good news: They have versions of gas masks which don't have to be worn as bras. They're called "gas masks".
A-C cup only... Guess I'm s**t outta luck!
B to C cup only, us smaller girls are out of luck too.
Unless you want to stuff your bra... With what? Another bra! Never hurts to be too prepared. ;)
Speaking as another D-cup darling, I'd like to ask the designers: Do you really want to live in a world without bodacious ta-tas? Get on the stick and make these up in some decent sizes- Most A-cup gals do NOT wear bras regularly.
okay we get it you have big tits lol
Now this is staying "a" breast of the situation
Perfect opportunity to make TWO gas masks. Otherwise what, jock strap gas masks? lol
Yep Guys should have jock strap gas masks. Bet they would keep them really clean if they knew that they would have to breathe thru them. LMAO.
ha! No they wouldn't! Then they would brag about how funky it was when they had to use it.
Yup, need them D's. Guess we'll just wrap our Playtex versions around our heads until the D's are manufactured.
Will all you bitches with big boobs read a little more and quite complaining? If you look on this website, it says it's available in 32B to 40C. NOT A cups like everyone keeps saying. If you look on the official website that this one links, it's ALSO available in D cup sizes. Now people like me with 32A's are the ones that should be worried. Now not only am I less attractive to every guy in the world, but I also can't wear a life-saving bra. Reeeaal cool. (I'm 20 and my tits are still A's. FML)
Hey tea cups, there are those of us that wear a larger size than a D cup... So you my small titted friend should really quit your bitchin. You can do a million things to make them look bigger, where as there no way to strap back anything bigger than a D cup. You can go to any store and buy a bra... I have to mail order. And now in case of gas we're both f*cked. Get over yourself
see above: okay we get it you have big tits lol
this is a radical new invention that will undoubtedly undergo changes in shape and size once more developments in markets and sales take place, aka be made smaller and/or bigger to accommodate more customers. no need to turn this comment thread into a 'shit single/white girls say'.
I am very large busted... I guess I'm just screwed. Not cool man, not cool.
"Are you my mummy?"
Haha! If there were a like button I would click it for your comment. Doctor Who FTW.
How about Men?
Well the women survive but the men die happy due to all the boobs they get to see ;)
The idea is that every woman should wear one all the time, and that the number of women is equal to, or greater than the number of men in any one place. You just gotta find a woman nice enough to bare it and share it.
I wear a 28E.
This is SO not useful for me.
Guess I'll have to die in the case of biological attack.
That's too bad.
Boob job?
No sane woman would subject her body to that amount of backache and shoulder pain...
"Guess I'll have to die in the case of biological attack."
Really? Go and buy a gas mask.
SMH
good idea,go real good in in those countries that keep setting of booms.
Can you wash it??
wohhh cooll...http://goo.gl/9lY4i
check out for more..
panties would be better!
If you can`t get one in your size in an emergency you can cover your head with a plastic bag and if sealed off sufficiently , it will prevent you from gas attacks for the rest of your life...
These would be great for Burning Man! :D
Thanks for the mammaries!
If you look on the website there are emergency shirts for the men, Why are people hating on small and large breasted women?? You are both equally screwed if there is a gas attack. Who cares if A cups can buy bras anywhere and F cups have to mail order your bra is not gonna save you either way!!! Stop acting like babies and bashing each other. No matter what size your boobs are you can not control it due to something called mother nature.
Iodine-131, does not " cause radiation", it is radioactive....it causes cancer, specifically, thyroid cancer.
I so want one!!
At least the bellydancers will be protected!
The funny thing is everyone bashing on other ppl and complaining its not in their size most likely wouldn't end up buying the damn thing anyway. I think everyone needs to relax.
AMEN, sister. I was floored by the women bashing each other ... while most of the guys were wishing for a version for men or making jokes.
I am afraid of this bra, coz is easy burning?
it is very easy to sex, remove easily, suck easy
very nice, save time
i love
creepalert
Have any of you super large or super small busted ladies thought about what this bra is for, or where it will be placed if needed? If the bra cup is too small (32A), it wouldn't cover both your nose and mouth, and if the cup is too large (miss 32F) then not only would the cup cover your whole face rendering you sightless, but would be too large and gap open. I can't believe any of you didn't think about that. Quit your bitchin'.
LOL All you guys are funny! You act like women gotta take off their shirts to get the bra off! Even us big busted Gals (large DDs here) can do it. Either way. Our purses are big enough now to just carry a freakin mask with us LOL
Understand while the big and small busted may sort of screwed in not being able to buy this bra; the manufacturer is hitting the greatest population of women. So can we start by being happy that for once the world is making a safety product with women in mind
Perfect for the Playa!
Lame I guess us busty women don't get to live :(
This is so efing stupid! Really people!
LOL so what that they don't do the bra in my size. My boobs, due to their size, are probably magical. I'll just lift one to my face and suck on my nipple. It'll probably work way better then a gas mask.
great idea what about small babbies gas mask toys ?
The logistics seem flawed.. Gas masks usually don't survive a washing. If the idea is to consistently wear one, then how often could you wear it before it began to fail...?
That is pretty cool. I like the idea, and it's not a bad price. They don't make my size though. I wonder how comfortable they are. FYI there is a Shirt too if you men are jealous.
This is all well and good. What are we guys suppose to do. I guess we have to get by a woman and use the half she doesn't use. Maybe we should practice this as much as we can. Never can be to careful.
Well ,John , It just goes to show that intellectualslike big tits as well .Your readers are just dieing to express their views on TITS
The problem is that most common nerve gases are absorbed through the skin, thus the full body suits you'll see any military or decontamination crew outfitted in. Nice idea, but questionable practicality.
I find it amusing that there is lots of shirtless talk and exposed boobs, any girl worth her salt (myself included) knows how to remove any bra without the need to first remove your shirt. I think they're a cool 'just incase' thing. for everyone who says just buy a gas mask, would you seriously lug one around ALL the time?
I hope they will expand the line to include protection against tear gas!
How bout also dubbing as a condom.... or a sperm catcher