Bullard introduces powered air-purifying respirator for health care workers

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Bullard, the 123-year-old company known for its invention of the hard hat in 1919, introduced the SALUS-HC, an award-winning, first-of-its-kind powered air-purifying respirator (PAPR) for workers in health care and public safety.

The innovative design of the SALUS-HC departs from that of traditional, waist-mounted PAPRs, focusing instead on comfort and ease of use. The product’s shoulder-mounted design enables health care professionals to experience a full range of motion, which is critical for proper patient care.

SALUS-HC air-purifying respirator also features sound-dampening motor technology, which offers wearers clarity in speech and hearing intelligibility and enables clear communication with patients and colleagues.

“When the pandemic highlighted the need for improvements to PPE, we felt a responsibility to use our deep knowledge of, and decades-long experience with, respiratory protection to create a new kind of PAPR – one that addresses the unique needs of health care workers,” aid Wells Bullard, president and CEO of Bullard. “We couldn’t be more excited about the valuable role we believe SALUS-HC will play in the health care space.”

In addition to its ergonomic design and sound dampening motor technology, SALUS-HC features a single button operation and a carriage release hook, which allows the carriage to be removed easily from the wearer’s side (as opposed to overhead). This maintains the wearer’s sterile field or breathing zone. The device’s LF-Series Hood incorporates a built-in HEPA panel, which provides protection against up-splashes and from aerosols generated from oral and nasal cavities.

“PAPRs have been a lifesaver for me, and are something all health care professionals should consider,” said Dr. Steven A. Johnson, director of surgery and surgical critical care at Capital Health Medical Center Hopewell. “The SALUS-HC will be a game-changer.”

Earlier this year, SALUS-HC received the prestigious Red Dot Award in the Product Design, Work Protection category. The Red Dot is awarded each year to products with outstanding design quality, as determined by an international jury of experts.

SALUS-HC is the first shoulder-mounted PAPR designed to the NIOSH PAPR100-P standard for health care applications.

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