Dealing with CS Gas (Tear Gas)
Gas mask- only use current military or police
designs. Don’t try any old ones you may come across in markets or army
surplus stores as many used asbestos in the filters!
Mask/hood- offer limited protection. Also
useful for disguise
Goggles- for eye protection.
Neutralizer #1- Carry a bottle of solution
made up from water with 5% Baking Soda.
Neutralizer #2- Carry a bottle of solution
made up from water and sodium metabisulphate (sold as Campden tablets used
in home brewing). Note, this needs to be made fresh and doesn’t work if
over a day old.
If you are asthmatic tell the people around
you before the action starts, so that if when sprayed you have a bad reaction
they’ll be able to act appropriately by giving you your medication or getting
a doctor.
What to do when sprayed
If you are in the line of spray move backwards
out of range rather than sideways where the spray may still be able to
reach you. If you are in a building move outside. Your eyesight may become
blurred and it is easy to lose awareness of what is going on. Do not run
blindly into the arms of the police, or worse still, into traffic. Act
calmly and stay aware of your surroundings whilst moving to a safe area.
If possible stand upwind of where the spraying
happened and expose the affected part of your body to the wind. This will
help disperse the gas quickly.
Flush the affected area of the body with
the solution mentioned earlier or just water if this is not available.
Do not touch it as you will spread the chemical around and rub it into
your pores. It may be possible hat you can rejoin the action right away,
as small amounts should only affect you for a few minutes.
ASAP, have a cold shower for 3-5 minutes
(hot water opens the pores and allows gas particles in), then proceed with
normal showering. Showers flush the chemical away whilst a bath will just
re-distribute it.
For gross contamination, wash with Neutralizer
as mentioned above.
After the action you should hang your clothes
up in a well ventilated area to disperse the last remnants of the gas.
When they have hung for a day or so wash them twice- first in cold and
then in hot water-and they’ll be okay to wear again.
CS Gas is fat soluble so never coat your
skin in petroleum jelly or similar substances for protection as some people
have tried. When sprayed do not treat the area with any cream, jelly or
ointment, unless advised to by someone who knows what they are talking
about. The best treatments are air, cold water and time.
References
Do or Die Editorial Collective. Do or
Die No. 7 Voices from Earth First!
Headquarters, Department of the Army. Nov.
1985. FM 19-15 Civil Disturbances
Hoffman, Abbie. 1996. steal this book.
Four Walls Eight Windows
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