I woke up this morning to the shocking news about the riots in London. These things really amaze me, and so I started researching about mob mentality and mass hysteria. The literature is endless, and I can’t fully relate. So instead, i started looking at riot control. Tear gas?
Tear gas works by annoying the mucous membranes in the eyes, nose, mouth and lungs, causing a multitude of effects. It causes excess tears, coughing, snot production in the nose and often panic. The blood pressure rises, and the breathing and heart rate slow. It is a skin irritant and causes a burning sensation on any skin exposed to it. Nausea and vomiting may also be caused.One of the more commonly used riot control agents is called CS. It is not actually a gas, but instead a very fine, white acid powder. Studies suggest that if this compound is sprayed into eyes, serious damage can occur. Some studies recommend blowing dry air into the eyes to remove it, but this actually doesn’t work. Correct treatment would involve prolonged and copious irrigation with water or a normal saline solution to deactivate CS, such that the solid particles can be removed from the eye.
According to the BBC, the correct response if exposed to CS is as follows:
‘Immediately hold your breath, and do not panic. Almost completely close your eyes, and expect to be blinking a lot. If you are a long way from fresh air, cover your face with a clean cloth - your outer sleeve is probably covered with the stuff so pull your sleeve up or inside out if necessary.
Remember, CS is not a gas. It's a powder, so it's relatively easy to stop the stuff getting up your nose. Don't breathe through your mouth if you can avoid it - it will give you a bigger dose quicker and will cause coughing and possibly vomiting.
Your first priority should be to get to fresh air. If you are indoors, get out as quickly as possible. If you are outdoors, try to see where the CS is coming from and get out of the way. As soon as you get into fresh air, keep moving. Your clothes will be coated with the stuff, but the majority will blow away in the wind, so hold your arms up and turn around. When you get the chance, wash the clothes thoroughly separately from any others. Above all, remember that the effects will wear off very quickly when you reach fresh air, so do not panic.’
According to the BBC, the correct response if exposed to CS is as follows:
‘Immediately hold your breath, and do not panic. Almost completely close your eyes, and expect to be blinking a lot. If you are a long way from fresh air, cover your face with a clean cloth - your outer sleeve is probably covered with the stuff so pull your sleeve up or inside out if necessary.
Remember, CS is not a gas. It's a powder, so it's relatively easy to stop the stuff getting up your nose. Don't breathe through your mouth if you can avoid it - it will give you a bigger dose quicker and will cause coughing and possibly vomiting.
Your first priority should be to get to fresh air. If you are indoors, get out as quickly as possible. If you are outdoors, try to see where the CS is coming from and get out of the way. As soon as you get into fresh air, keep moving. Your clothes will be coated with the stuff, but the majority will blow away in the wind, so hold your arms up and turn around. When you get the chance, wash the clothes thoroughly separately from any others. Above all, remember that the effects will wear off very quickly when you reach fresh air, so do not panic.’
Well at least now I know. The advice doesn't work if you have other reasons for tearing up. I tried.
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Credits:
Emerg Med J. 2010 Nov;27(11):881-2.
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