Protective helmet having nose passage closure elements

A device for use with a half-mask adapted to fit around the nose and mouth of a wearer, comprising a support member adapted to overlie each side of the nasal region of said half-mask, a pair of expandable plastic cushions connected to said support member and positioned to overlie each side of the nasal region of said half-mask and thereby each respective side of the person's nose, whereby each expandable plastic cushion expands against a respective side of said half-mask and thereby against the person's nose when a fluid medium is supplied to said plastic cushion, a tube for carrying a fluid medium connected to each plastic cushion and extending away from said support member, a squeezable bulb connected to said tube at a location spaced from said support member, said bulb being squeezable to cause a flow of fluid medium from said bulb through said tube and into said plastic cushions to expand said plastic cushions against said half-mask and thereby the person's nose to close the person's nasal flow passages, said tube including a supply portion connected to said bulb, a Y-connecting piece connected to said supply portion and a pair of cushion portions each connected between said Y-connecting piece and one of said plastic cushions.