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| A gas mask, such as the one this Buddhist monk is wearing, is the best protection against tear gas. |
If
You Are Exposed To Tear Gas
What
to Do If You Are Exposed To Tear Gas
How to Deal With Tear
Gas
By Anne
Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Tear gas (e.g., CS, CR, Mace, pepper spray) is
used to control riots, disperse crowds, and subdue individuals.
It is intended to cause pain, so exposure to it
is not fun.
However, the effects of the gas usually are
temporary.
You can expect relief from most of the symptoms
within a couple of hours of exposure.
This is a look at how to prepare for a potential
encounter with tear gas, with tips on how to respond.
Symptoms of Tear Gas Exposure
To some extent, symptoms depend on the
composition of the product, but they usually include:
o stinging and
burning of the eyes, nose, mouth, and skin
o excessive tearing
o blurred vision
o runny nose
o salivation
(drooling)
o exposed tissue
may develop a rash and a chemical burn
o coughing and
difficulty breathing, including a feeling of choking
o disorientation
and confusion, which may lead to panic
o intense anger
The disorientation and confusion may not be
totally psychological.
In some cases, the solvent used to prepare the
tear gas may contribute to the reaction and may be more toxic than the
lachrymatory agent.
What to Do
Tear gas usually is delivered in the form of a
grenade, which is fitted onto the end of a gas gun and fired with a blank
shotgun cartridge.
Therefore, you may hear shots being fired when
tear gas is used.
Don't assume you are being shot at. Do not
panic. Look up when you hear the shot and avoid being in the path of the
grenade.
Tear gas grenades often explode in the air,
delivering a metal container which will spew gas.
This container will be hot, so do not touch it.
Do not pick up an unexploded tear gas canister, since it could explode and
cause injury.
The best defense against tear gas is a gas mask,
but if you don't have a mask there are still steps you can take to minimize
damage from tear gas.
If you think you might encounter tear gas you
can soak a bandana or paper towel in lemon juice or cider vinegar and store it
in a plastic baggie.
You can breathe through the acidified cloth for
several minutes, which should give you sufficient time to get upwind or reach
higher ground.
Goggles are a great thing to have. You can use
tight-fitting swim goggles if chemical safety goggles aren't available.
Don't wear contacts anywhere you might encounter
tear gas.
If you are wearing contact lenses, immediately
remove them. Exposed contacts are a loss as is anything else you can't wash.
You can wear your clothes again after you wash
them but wash them separately that first time.
If you don't have goggles or any sort of mask,
you can breathe the air inside your shirt, since there is less air circulation
and therefore a lower concentration of the gas, but that is counterproductive
once the fabric becomes saturated.
First Aid
First aid for eyes is to flush them with sterile
saline or water until the stinging starts to abate.
Exposed skin should be washed with soap and
water.
Breathing difficulties are treated by
administering oxygen and in some cases using medication that are used to treat
asthma. Medicated bandages can be used on burns.
Anne
Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry
Expert
Education
Ph.D.,
Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
B.A.,
Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Introduction
Ph.D.
in biomedical sciences from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville - Oak Ridge
National Laboratory.
Science
educator with experience teaching chemistry, biology, astronomy, and physics at
the high school, college, and graduate levels.
ThoughtCo
and About Education chemistry expert since 2001.
Widely-published
graphic artist, responsible for printable periodic tables and other
illustrations used in science.
Experience
Anne
Helmenstine, Ph.D. has covered chemistry for ThoughtCo and About Education
since 2001, and other sciences since 2013. She taught chemistry, biology,
astronomy, and physics at the high school, college, and graduate levels. She
has worked as a research scientist and also abstracting and indexing diverse
scientific literature for the Department of Energy.
In
addition to her work as a science writer, Dr. Helmenstine currently serves as a
scientific consultant, specializing in problems requiring an interdisciplinary
approach. Previously, she worked as a research scientist and college professor.
Education
Dr.
Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences from the University of
Tennessee at Knoxville and a B.A. in physics and mathematics with a minor in
chemistry from Hastings College. In her doctoral work, Dr. Helmenstine
developed ultra-sensitive chemical detection and medical diagnostic tests.
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and Dotdash
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