to whom it may concern
tear gas
background
tear gas is not a gas, it’s a kind of powder that clings to ur skin and clothing. it affects ur eyes and ur respiratory system. tear gas cans have different levels of toxicity, and the ones used against civilians are the lowest, but u should never trust a cop with ur safety
countries might have different policies about it, but common (rarely followed) protocols include:
tear gas canister must be shot at the air, not directly at civilians
police must announce they will gas the place before shooting a can
lethality
people with respiratory problems should be thoroughly careful as death may ocur in a matter of hours exposed to it
others with no problems might experience fainting
have in mind the long lasting effects of this chemical weapon have not been registered yet
protection
thick face mask (the type made from a paper-like material) for a short period of exposure or low toxicity
proper gas masks with mixed filter against organic vapours and acid gases + particles
goggles (like ski masks or to go swimming)
if the gas mask doesn’t cover your entire face/doesn’t have a proper grip, u need to wear a bandana or a piece of clothing under it
do NOT use vinegar
do NOT wear makeup, creams or sunscreen as it worsens the effect on ur eyes
treatment & prevention
cheap: mixture of 90% water + 10% baking soda, apply on the nose, rinse ur mouth with it, pour it on the eyes (closed) and wait a little while before blinking repeatedly
effective & cheap: boil a pot of water with laurel leaves (the kind u use to cook) until water turns brown. apply on nose, rinse mouth, pour on closed eyes and blink repeatedly. more effective as preventive measure (soak a piece of clothing and hold it against ur mouth/nose or tie it around ur head)
other: maalox antiacid
u can bite on a lemon for the effects to go away, but it would only last once ur away from the gas
do NOT run or get agitated, walk fast and watch where ur going. be calm, be mindful of others suffering the effects of the gas around u. help each other. contain each other
sneeze, cough, spit and blink as much as necessary until u’ve recovered
aftercare
tear gas clings to ur skin and ur clothes, so try to get the least amount of skin exposed. do NOT touch ur face (eyes, mouth, nose) with ur hands or ur clothes after u’ve been exposed, as the particles of the chemical will once again hurt u
u can wash ur clothes with baking soda, but the chemical might still remain (so dont take that forever 21 dress to a protest)
do NOT shower with hot water, as it re-activates the chemical. u dont have to use ice cold water but regulate the temperature carefully
neutralization
baking soda + water mixture in a big (6lt) reusable water bottle (some people add shampoo). u must wear heavy face protection and wielding gloves to manipulate the tear gas canister, grabbing it quickly from the floor and then cover the bottle as fast as u can once u put the can inside. it takes a few minutes to put off.
important: keep the canister, dont throw it away. when u’ve gotten to safety take a picture of the labels and information on the can, as it details the toxicity and precautions. make sure to check the protocols in ur country and report any misconduct.
not recommended: if u do not have the proper equipment to handle a tear gas canister, throw or kick the can against the police who shot it. watch them suffer. absolutely not recommended i do not support this u should never :-)
pepper spray
background
pepper spray isnt a gas either, the particles get under ur skin and stay there for a very long period of time. it obstructs ur respiratory system and blinds u for hours. if u see a cop walking around with a long canister in their hand, do please please get away and warn others.
lethality
death has been registered on asthmatic people
no long lasting effects as far as i know
protection
there’s nothing that can really prevent the effects of a pepper spray attack. it will cling to whatever u have on though, so the more covered u are the less particles will reach ur skin.
milk: magnesium milk is more recommended (u can buy it in a drugstore) but regular milk might work as well. it can lower the effects of pepper spray but it wont stop it. it relieves the effects after u’ve been attacked, but depending on how exposed u were. it leaves white stains on the skin and clothes.
aftercare
tear gas will worsen the effects, so if ur attacked with pepper spray u must get away immediately
if u are hit directly, in close proximity, u need to be taken to a hospital asap
it will burn ur skin and ur throat, u will feel hell on ur skin, but do not cry. remain calm. u need to know this will be over in a few hours and u will have no long lasting effects
the hospital may release u once u’ve recovered sight, but ur skin (especially ur hands, as u use and move them the most) will still hurt from time to time. sink the affected areas in a mixture of water and dish soap repeatedly and fast for 10-15 seconds
do NOT put any creams or lotions on
throw away the clothes and belongings contaminated with it, but be careful and mindful of the animals and homeless people who search for food in the trash, they dont deserve to suffer the effects of this weapon just because u are lousy
pellet shots
lethality
u will not die of a pellet shot wound, but if it lands on ur eyes u will be permanently blinded as the eye injury is irreversible
at the hospital they might have to give u vaccines
sometimes doctors are unable to remove the bullets and, depending on what it’s made of, u might suffer the effects of contamination
have in mind they can land anywhere, even ur face, and the removal is painful and excruciating
if ur shot in a non threatening part of ur body it will hurt like hELL, but u can still walk around just fine
protection
wearing jeans or windbreaker fabric will lower the speed of the shot, though it will still injure ur skin
anything from tin pieces to wood will stop the bullets. u can make a shield out of stop signs or cable satellites antennas
if u have a shield with u, it is ur responsability to stand in the front and protects other
for the eyes: safety glasses/goggles with ANSI z87.1 or z87+ standard are the easiest and cheapest to get, but military standard MIL-PRF-31013 is more effective. be sure to check the item actually qualifies legally for the standard
extra
water tank: throwing rocks at it only works if the door is open and u can aim at the cops inside. be careful since they might mix water with other chemicals (like caustic soda, which produces burns in the skin and vomit) and are more likely to use disposed water. depending on the type of tank it might actually hit u so hard u fly out of ur shoes, so be careful
laser pointer: u can use them to block cops’ vision, it will save lives
arrest: if u are being arrested and u are alone, or all the people u are with are being taken with u, yell ur full name so the people watching (probably recording) can have proof that u have been detained and ur family and friends can find out
recordings: dont post ur recordings on social media, as it can lead to the arrest of the people in it (or at least blur/cover their faces). it is important to have footage of the events to help the victims injured or abused by cops though
