It breaks my heart to know a young man was gunned down. What's worse is people have taken to the streets in protest, but that protest has turned into more violence. To control the crowd the police have resorted to using tear gas.
I will not comment on how absurd I think this behavior is (on both sides), but I offer my medical observations regarding the physical affects of the tear gas and what to do in case of exposure.
What is Tear Gas?
Tear gas and other lacrimating agents have been used since the early 1900s as a means of crowd control. Some examples include xylyl bromide, dibenzoxazepine (CR gas), 2-chlorobenzalmalononitrile (CS gas), Phenacyl chloride (CN gas), syn-propanethial-S-oxide, and pepper spray.How Does Tear Gas Affect the Body?
These compounds are absorbed by the mucous membranes of the eyes, nose, mouth, and lungs. In the eye, the gas stimulates corneal nerves, which cause profuse tearing and eye muscle cramping as a protective measure to provoke eye closure.Other effects observed in victims of tear gas exposure include burning of the mouth and throat, difficulty breathing, headache, dizziness, and even blindness. While there is no definite effective antidote, there are many anecdotal reports of substances like milk helping to ease the effects of tear gas. This is presumably due to the neutralizing, antacid properties of milk.
If exposed to tear gas, follow these instructions:
- Do not panic
- Avoid the path of the dispensing grenade canister. It is usually hot to touch and near the greatest concentration of gas.
- If no mask is available, use cloth to cover your face until you can reach higher ground. You may have to cover your face with the shirt you are wearing.
- Remove contact lenses and flush eyes profusely with water (once in a clear area) until pain abates
- You may need supplemental oxygen if breathing problems exist.
- Seek medical attention urgently for further monitoring and treatment
No comments:
Post a Comment