Content

• Steps
• Tips
• Warnings

Exposure to harmful riot control agents usually lasts less than half an hour, but anyone who has ever experienced the effects of tear gas during a demonstration will tell you that 30 minutes is a lot. The term riot control agents (RBCs) includes several gases, including chloroacetophenone (CN) and chlorobenzylidene malononitrile (C3), which are better known as tear gas. Pepper spray is another widely used anti-riot agent. Exposure to these chemicals can cause skin, nasal and eye irritation, nausea and shortness of breath for several minutes. In rare cases, SBP can cause long-term health complications, blindness, and even death. If you are planning to participate in any form of protest, it is important to know how to deal with your exposure to these chemicals. However, even if you do not take part in the protests, you may still be at risk from the effects of these funds, being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Steps

1. 1 Avoid exposure. The impact of SBP can be quite painful and even fatal. Avoid exposure if possible by avoiding riots, protests and demonstrations. If you are committed to the cause that caused the protest, then do not let the threats of the SSC deter you from participating. However, if you see that the police are wearing gas masks, or if you see that the gas has been released, then you should leave immediately. If you have no compelling reason to attend a protest, then you should not go there: SBB does not distinguish between protesters and passers-by, so gratifying curiosity is not worth the suffering that you face.
2. 2 Be prepared. Wear clothing that covers your entire body, remembering to tighten the cuffs as tightly as possible. Gas masks are quite effective as a means of protection against SBB, but only if they are functioning properly. Used gas masks purchased from an online store or from a military ammunition warehouse may be faulty. In addition, the old gas masks were rumored to have asbestos filters. * * This common judgment is unfounded. HOWEVER, old American-made cans were chromium toxic.Also MANY claims are made to the "expiration date" of gas masks. ACTIVATED CARBON, which is a filter element, is effective against CN / CZ gas, and has an unlimited shelf life. * * If you do not have a gas mask, you can use a respirator that covers your nose and mouth. Make sure you are using filters that are suitable for use with paint thinners and other toxic gases. Also soak a handkerchief or other piece of cloth in apple cider vinegar or lemon juice and cover your mouth and nose tightly with it. Bring sealed safety goggles to protect your eyes. Swimming goggles are fine, but only if they have a good seal. If possible, avoid wearing contact lenses. Prepare and bring a solution of water and baking soda (the solution should contain about 5% baking soda) to neutralize the effects of chemicals on your skin. Try not to use oil-based creams or sunscreens as these will help absorb the SBB.
3. 3 Get out into fresh air. In order to minimize the severity and duration of exposure to SBB, exposure should be limited. The best way to do this is simply to get out of the area of ​​exposure to the chemicals.
   • Get away quickly, don't run, from the area where the chemicals were released. Running can provoke panic in others. Once you have discovered the release of riot control agents, you should leave as soon as possible. If the chemicals are released in front of you, then you should move backward to get out of the range of exposure. Try to move against the wind, in relation to the point where the substance was released.
   • Avoid visible clouds. SBBs stored in cans resemble clouds of smoke when released. These clouds can drift and accumulate, especially in lowlands or near the ground. Stay away from these clouds as they have the highest gas concentrations.
   • Get to the hill. SBB is heavier than air, and thus the highest concentrations tend to be found near the ground. Don't drop to the ground. It is best to stay upright to reduce the risk of being trampled and try to get to the highest point possible. This can be a hill, the top of a wall, etc.
   • Leave the building if the gas is released indoors. If SBB is released inside the building, then you should exit as quickly as possible. The chemicals do not disperse as they do outdoors, and high concentrations can be extremely hazardous with prolonged exposure.
   • Go inside if possible. Although it is almost impossible under the circumstances, it is possible to get inside a relatively sealed building if the gas is released outside. Make sure the windows and doors are closed and head up to the highest floor. Be aware, however, that if the gas has already entered the building through an open window or ventilation system, then you will need to leave the building and get out into the fresh air. Fresh air, especially if there is wind, is preferable to indoor air, especially if you have already been exposed to SBB.
4. 4 Flush your eyes. If your eyes bake, or if your vision is getting worse, do not rub your eyes. Remove contact lenses and rinse eyes thoroughly with cold water for 10 minutes. Do not re-wear contact lenses that have been exposed to substances.
5. 5 Take off exposed clothing. Once you are out of range of exposure to the gas, remove any clothing that may have been exposed to the gas (this usually means taking off everything down to your underwear). If you are wearing a pullover shirt, you should cut it open, not take it off over your head. Do not put these clothes back on. Place it in a plastic bag and leave it at the scene.Hazardous waste professionals usually come to clean up after exposure to SBB. You can also take a bag of clothes with you to clean them later.
6. 6 Rinse skin with cold water or neutralizer. Hot water expands the pores, which promotes absorption of SBB into the skin. Take a cold shower for 3-5 minutes. A shower or hose will work fine, but you shouldn't use a washcloth or soap on your skin just yet. Touching the skin will only spread the chemicals throughout the body. If you have a neutralizing solution, such as the soda solution mentioned above, apply it all over your body, paying special attention to the areas of your skin that are itchy, burning, and red. Most SBP can be washed off the eye mucosa with milk. Fill a glass halfway with milk, apply it to the affected eye, tilt your head back and blink several times to rinse it thoroughly. When rinsing your body with water or baking soda, try to position your body so that the water runs off every part of your body, not from head to toe. The water that runs off your body will be dirty, so try not to get it in your eyes or on other people.
7. 7 Wash with soap and water. Take a warm soapy shower only after thoroughly washing yourself with cold water. It is necessary to take a shower, not a bath.
8. 8 Get medical attention. In most cases, you will not need medical attention, but if symptoms persist even after you wash thoroughly, if you feel signs of loss of vision or chest pain, you should see your doctor or other health care provider right away.

Tips

• Riot control agents can sometimes cause serious breathing problems in people with asthma. If you are asthmatic, then you must tell your comrades about this before the gas is released, so that they can help you and help you get to a safe place. Using asthma medications, such as inhalers, can help relieve breathing difficulties caused by exposure to the gas.
• Baking soda is alkaline, vinegar and citrus fruits are acid. Using the correct neutralizer is very important.
• If a sore throat makes breathing difficult, gargle with water. Spit out the water, don't swallow it. Do this only if you are not having a choking attack so you do not choke.
• Turn the body parts that were exposed to the SBB against the wind (as long as you are against the wind in relation to the area where the gas was released). The wind will help carry the chemical fumes away from your body.
• If you are using a cloth soaked in vinegar instead of a gas mask, you can use it over the respirator, as inhaling the vapors of the vinegar can be unpleasant.
• If you want to preserve clothing that has been exposed to the gas, seal it in a plastic bag and wash it with detergent and hot water. Always wash contaminated clothing separately from other clothing. Hang it outside to let it air out for 2 or 3 days before putting it back on.
• Dispose of contaminated clothing properly.
• If blisters appear on the skin, they should be treated as a second-degree burn. To relieve symptoms on the skin, use sunburn fluid, Burov's solution, colloidal oatmeal, or topical corticosteroids.
• Wash your body with Castile soap before potential exposure to SBB.

Warnings

• Some people develop an increased sensitivity to tear gas after one exposure, so if they are exposed again it could lead to more serious health problems.
• In the event of a terrorist attack or military strike that releases toxic chemicals, it is important to determine which chemicals were used.While riot control agents are heavier than air, some other more toxic gases, such as hydrogen cyanide, are lighter than air. In addition, treatment methods can vary significantly depending on which chemicals the victim has been exposed to.
• Mass panic that can occur in a group of people exposed to riot control agents can cause a dangerous crush. Be careful not to lose your balance or you may be trampled, especially as other people may be partially blinded.
• Try not to touch contaminated materials. Wear rubber gloves when handling contaminated clothing or when assisting victims of SBR.
• Prolonged exposure to high concentrations of SBB, such as what would happen if released indoors, can cause long-term respiratory problems or death.
• If you develop temporary blindness or visual impairment, be careful when moving. Your natural instinct is to try to run as fast as possible, but if you can't see clearly, you could get hurt by hitting a car or a stationary object.
• If you are wearing a gas mask, make sure you know how to take it off quickly. If you were exposed to SBB before wearing the gas mask, or if your mask is not functioning properly, you may vomit, and if you cannot remove the gas mask, you may suffocate.