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Federal agents' use of chemical weapons has hurt children at immigration raids, while walking down their block, and in their schools.
Do you have any tips or resources on what to do when you've been tear gassed?
Sure!
Here's a zine I like that gives a really good overview of chemical weapons and how to do an eye flush. (available in both English and Spanish, there's also versions for printing).
General tips:
Only use water for eye flushes--don't use milk, other chemicals, etc. Water bottles with a sports top/squeeze top are the best for doing eye flushes. If you don't have that kind of lid, you can stab a hole in a normal water bottle cap to basically turn it into a squeeze water bottle. Practice eye flushes at home so that you're not trying to figure it out for the first time in the middle of a chaotic protest situation.
Wear protective goggles. It's a lot easier to deal with tear gas and help other people if you don't get a direct hit to your eyes. Put them on before you see cops getting out riot gear--goggles do no good if they're in your backpack and not on you!
The number one tactic of the cops is fear. They use chemical weapons to try to break up crowds, intimidate us, and dissuade us from participating in (urgently needed) escalatory direct action. When we're tear gassed, it sucks, it's scary, and it hurts, and at the same time, it is temporary, and we can help each other get through it and care for each other in the aftermath.
in general, when looking for information about protest safety, I recommend looking up resources from street medic collectives. Riot Medicine, Crimethinc, and Sprout Distro's collection of Direct Action zines have some good information. Double check info before spreading posts on social media- myths like the "pour milk on your eyes" seem to regularly go viral, which is super unhelpful.
if you have any other questions, feel free to send an ask and if it's within my scope and experience i'll do my best to answer!
Listening to the recent episode of Sawbones about tear gas and Dr. McElroy just hit me with the stunning realization that I've been so propogandized by this systemically eugenicist country that it never occurred to me the threat of tear gas that keeps my asthmatic and unable to run disabled body from joining protests is an infringement on my (alleged) constitutional right to free speech and assembly
Chicago teachers said they’re dealing with traumatized students in underfunded schools — while Trump spends millions to militarize American
Portland residents are ‘suffering immense physical and psychological harm’ from tear gas wafting into their homes when deployed on protester
Protect yourself and each other.
Dr. Sydnee McElroy
Rich Meck :: Episcopalians church
The best thing to rinse off pepper spray or tear gas is baby shampoo in a liter of water. You can rinse your face and eyes with it. Also lean forward to rinse, not back. Seems wrong but that's how you do it. When you get home use Dawn on the rest of you. Do not take a hot shower! In fact do not shower! Or use hot water. Cold as you can stand is best. It's on your exposed parts and taking a shower will get it all in places you do not want. Piece meal wash yourself-- start with hands and arms first then your face and head. Make sure you get your ears!
Do not laundry your clothes in hot water or put them in a dryer until you've washed them at least 3 times in Dawn dish soap (also use 20 Mule Team borax) or you will release that crap again.
Love you all! Resist!
(Fyi that info is from an optometrist who served in the military)
