For safety’s sake or just peace of mind

These new items will help keep you safe and healthy on the go.

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Breathe easier

Potomac Emergency Escape Mask: I hope you never need this pocket-sized but substantial defense against biological and chemical threats. It can protect against anthrax, cyanide and sarin. The mask is not designed for a prolonged stay in a contaminated environment, but it has been tested during evacuations. Embedded in the yellow silicone stretch mask are plastic viewing portals and two activated carbon filters for protection against inhaling poisonous particles. The mask weighs less than half a pound and comes sealed in a foil pouch that fits into a briefcase or large purse.

Potomac Emergency Escape Mask is $149.95 from I.B.N. Protection Products, (914) 738-0400, www.ibnprotection.com.

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Medication minder

Deluxe Pill Organizer: This stylish tri-fold wallet has eight heavy-duty zippered pouches for pills and a long slide-lock one for prescriptions or other medications. You can take the soft-plastic pouches separately or together. The pouches hold more pills than the typical hard-plastic pill organizer, but the pills can get crushed more easily in them.

Deluxe Pill Organizer (51P14) is $14.95 from Lizell, (800) 718-8808, www.lizell.com.

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Sound planning

ER-6 Noise Isolation Earphones: These are a cross between earplugs and ear-bud headphones. The result is a lightweight, flexible device that enhances the sound of a portable CD player, cassette player or MP3 player and reduces environmental sound levels, such as the background noise on airplanes, trains and subways. The earphones come with a pair of flexible silicone ear tips, a pair of foam ear tips, a filter-changing tool, two filters, a carrying pouch and shirt clip. Over the drone of an airplane, I found the earphones had a full, vibrant sound. An added advantage was an easing of pressure on my eardrums as the plane descended.

Noise Isolation Earphones (HU-3039) are $139.95 from TechnoScout, (800) 704-1210, www.technoscout.com.

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Taking a shot

The Suture/Syringe Medic: Travel medicine specialists frequently advise those heading to developing countries to take their own sterile syringes in case of a medical emergency. Adventure Medical Kits, maker of first-aid kits, has put together a transparent, self-zipping plastic pouch filled with a variety of syringes and needles, nylon suture, an intravenous catheter, antiviral-bacterial towelettes and Nitrile barrier gloves.

The Suture/Syringe Medic (item 568) is $18. Adventure Medical Kits, (800) 324-3517, www.adventuremedicalkits.com.

Gear & Gadgets appears once a month. Judi Dash can be reached at JudiDash@aol.com.