- Tear gas 101
Contrary to its name, CS gas-the technical name for tear gas-is actually a crystalline powder that is converted into a fine spray and propelled from a grenade or canister by a small pyrotechnic explosion. This chemical was first developed in 1928 by American scientists, and after years of studies, it eventually became a weapon widely used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War. Nowadays, tear gas is part of the crowd control arsenal of police and law enforcement agencies around the world, because it’s an easy way to disperse masses without the use of direct force.
"People just assume it's safe, [but] it's important to know that these weapons actually do cause injuries,” says Dr. Rohini Haar, an emergency physician, and a research fellow at the Human Rights Center at the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.
The active component in tear gas-2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile-targets a specific receptor in the body called TRPA1, which serves mainly to send pain signals to the nervous system. When a tear gas canister explodes, CS powder sprays into the air and adheres to any moisture it can find-that means the tears in your eyes, the sweat on your skin, the grease in your hair, and the saliva and mucus that covers your mouth and airways.
When you’re exposed to tear gas, your eyes sting, your vision blurs, and you cry and blink uncontrollably. It gets worse the longer you’re in the gas: After a few seconds, you won’t be able to see, which will disorient and confuse you, potentially to the point of emotional and psychological distress.
But that’s not all. The powder also irritates your airways, making it hard to breathe, and causes your chest to tighten. You’ll start coughing automatically and your nose and mouth will secrete copious amounts of mucus and saliva, respectively. It’s a defense mechanism, but it will, paradoxically, make the symptoms even worse. Some people report feeling like they’re drowning in their own secretions and, if you don’t move out of the cloud, more mucus will only give the powder more to stick to.
“The body produces all these fluids and responses to expel this toxic irritant. In the case of tear gas, the response is very much exaggerated, and if people cannot escape, they get basically incapacitated,” says Sven-Eric Jordt, Ph.D., a professor of anesthesiology at Duke University School of Medicine, and part of the team responsible for discovering TRPA1’s role in tear gas response.
Yes, this is scary, but taking minimal precautions will help you reduce these symptoms, move to safety, and, hopefully, help others along the way.
- Before exposure: be ready
Prepare your signs, your banners, and whatever you use to make some noise, but make sure you leave room for some essentials that will come in handy if you ever find yourself engulfed in a thickening cloud of gas. These precautions are key:
1. Wear a scarf or bandana. The only completely effective way to protect yourself against tear gas is to wear a gas mask, but it’s highly likely you don’t have one of those just lying around the house. The next best thing is to cover your nose and mouth with a scarf or bandana, ideally one that’s been soaked in water. This will prevent the powder from getting into your airways, which will allow you to, well, breathe-which is always a good idea.
2. Cover your head. If you can create an all-in-one solution with a big scarf that will cover your airways and your entire head, even better. If you don’t have one, a hat or beanie is a good complement to your mask. Make sure to cover as much of your head as possible, and if you have long hair, tie it up in a bun or braid-this will make it easier to get rid of the powder later on.
3. Always wear goggles. They may not be the trendiest of accessories, but a pair of ski or swimming goggles tightly worn will prevent any tear gas particles from getting into your eyes. If you don’t have any and don’t want to buy them, sunglasses can also be useful, though they’re not ideal. Simple shades will only protect you from particles coming straight at you, but if the alternative is to go unprotected, sunglasses are better than nothing.
4. Cover as much of your skin as possible. This may be a problem in warmer temperatures, but if you have to choose an outfit for a protest, the maxim is: The less skin, and the denser the fabric, the better. Forgo shorts and opt for long-sleeved shirts-that will mean less surface for the gas to adhere to. Note that CS powder does cling to your clothes, so if you’re exposed, you’ll need to change as soon as possible.
5. Carry your things on your back. If you need to run, carrying an over-the-shoulder bag or a cross-body bag can be really uncomfortable. Especially when the only strap on your bag breaks and you end up running from water cannons while hugging your bag as a stranger pulls you along by your arm. I experienced exactly that during the student protests for quality education in Chile back in 2011. The lesson I learned was that if you need to carry something, it’s better to do it in a backpack or a drawstring bag. It’ll be much more comfortable if you ever have to make a run for it.
6. Don’t forget your water. Whether it’s for drinking or washing your face, you should always have one or two bottles of clean water with you. If you’re able to identify clean water sources in the early stages of a protest or demonstration, try refilling your bottles as you go. Don’t touch stagnant water, like a fountain or pond, even if you’re desperate. For starters, it’s most likely gross, but pools of water can easily become contaminated with tear gas once it’s released into the air.
There are also things you should consider leaving at home if there’s a possibility you’ll be exposed to tear gas:
1. Makeup. I do realize that forgoing mascara and lipstick may be a hard pass for some-nothing says “revolution” like red lips-but there is good reason for it. As mentioned above, the powder in tear gas clings to mucus and other bodily fluids, and since makeup has a similar watery, oily consistency, it will cling to it, too. If you are tear-gassed and you’re wearing eyeliner on your waterline, the powder will stick there. And, yeah, nope.
2. Contact lenses. Same principle. Just imagine having tear gas powder trapped between your contacts and your eyeballs. Not a pretty sight. Literally.
- During exposure: don’t panic (seriously)
Well, there’s nothing you could’ve done. You were there, raising your fist and banging your pot, but things took a turn for the worse and, next thing you know, you’re in the middle of a tear gas cloud. Don’t worry-it happens.
Even though most people report mostly manageable levels of pain and irritation, tear gas exposure can be a real problem for vulnerable people (children, the elderly, and pregnant women) and those with asthma or any sort of respiratory condition.
“Children are worse off because their lungs are much smaller, so the surface-to-volume ratio is very different from adults. They're more at risk when they inhale it,” Jordt says.
Just as airplane safety videos have taught us, keep calm and secure your mask-or bandana, in this case-before helping others. Once you have your goggles on and your airways are covered, look around you and see if there’s anybody you can help.
If you see somebody either lying or sitting down or, it’s imperative to move them to a clean and ventilated area. CS powder is heavy, so once it’s aerosolized and propelled out of its canister, it will fall and settle-the closer to the ground, the higher the concentration of gas.
Once everybody who needs help has been dealt with, your top priority will be to move away from the tear gas cloud. Your first instinct will be to run, but fight against it-running will get you agitated, and before you know it, you’ll be taking in big gulps of air, filling your lungs with more tear gas, even if you’re wearing a mask. Move quickly, but make sure to keep your breathing even.
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