Visit our website: HTTP://WWW.STOPNATO.ORG.UK --------------------------------------------- [Via Communist Internet... http://www.egroups.com/group/Communist-Internet ] [Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ] . . ----- Original Message ----- From: secr <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, September 02, 2001 7:47 AM Subject: [mobilize-globally] Tear Gas/Pepper Spray Protection & brief note on eye remedies Subject: [IMF-WB-Protest-Discuss] Tear Gas/Pepper Spray Protection & brief note on eye remedies Date: Sat, 1 Sep 2001 16:04:50 -0700 From: "kirk james murphy, m.d." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi folks, "Fear is only temporary, and we are extremely strong" - (quote from Djennifer, who coordinated the health collective for the Seattle WTO protests) As you read the following, it helps to remember that the chief power of the chemical weapons deployed against us is fear. In the view of the damaged minds which concoct military strategy, the utility of chemical weapons lies in their capacity to force opponents (us!) to expend time, emotional energy, and physical resources upon countermeasures against chemical weapons. Although we need to have some basic information and tools to help ourselves and our companions in case of tear gas or pepper spray during the IMF/WB protests, the less time and energy we spend on this, the greater will be the power we bring to our chief goal: saving the living planet and the creatures, ecosytems, and societies upon it from the deadly effects of corporate rule. We can protect ourselves, take care of others around us, and still have the joy and energy required for our efforts! Lots of information has circulated about remedies/protection for tear gas (and pepper spray, the other chemical weapon commonly deployed against protesters). Because some of the info has become a bit garbled, here is an attempt at a brief clarification. (I) WHAT MAY BE THROWN AT US AND HOW YOU CAN IDENTIFY IT Tear gas ("CS" or "CN" are irritant chemicals which are solids at room temperature. They usually need to be heated to become a gas (or "sublime", in the non-spiritual sense of the word!). They are most commonly deployed as projectiles fired from various weapons. The projectiles (canisters) are fired with considerable force, and become quite hot as they give off clouds of irritant gas. Some canisters contain "inert" ingredients which may also be toxic in their own right (the paint stripper and insecticide "methylene chloride CS and CN can also be sprayed as a fog out of some handheld weapons (which may have regular cylindrical barrels or big cones that look like fire extinguisher cones.) Pepper spray "OC" is an irritant chemical which consists of extracts of hot pepper (or synthetic extracts) suspended in a liquid. The liquid usually contains synthetic petrochemicals. Some water cannon are modified so that OC (as well as CS or CN) may be disbursed through the water. Pepper spray - because it is a liquid - is more likely to be used at close range: squirted out of anything from handheld containers to big canisters on wheels. "Non-lethal" projectiles (plastic bullets, dowels, wooden blocks, beanbags, etc) can raise a big bruise. More ominously, they can cause severe eye injuries. In Quebec, one protester hit in throat with a plastic bullet required emergency surgery for life-threatening injuries. (II) PROTECTION FROM TEAR GAS/PEPPER SPRAY: Basic concepts: Protection against tear gas requires some way of keeping it away from eyes and not breathing it. Protection against pepper spray requires some way of protecting eyes, face, and skin from the liquid. (1) Most expensive - gas mask, face shield, hat with big brim "Gas masks" are most comprehensive, offering protection for eyes as well as mouth/nose. ONLY USE GAS MASKS WITH SHATTERPROOF LENSES/FACEPLATES! [At the clinic in Seattle we had one person with severe injuries to the eye area (orbit) from shattered glass (this was from an Israeli-style mask with glass eyepieces).] For those who have the $ (or the benefactors), gas masks with a "full face" plastic shield [allowing much greater comfort and visibility] using polycarbamate [shatterproof] material seem to be around $350 retail. In the spirit of Seattle, the masks are available with NIOSH approved filters (TC-14G-0236) for CS and CN tear gases. According to the manufacturer, the filters are "effective against, but does not have NIOSH approval for "OC" (pepper spray). The filters last up to eight hours. These masks are designed to fit under face shields (see below) - the combination gives protection against projectiles and - with a hat with large brim - against pepper spray. Less expensive gas masks with the "insect look" (two shatterproof eyepieces with a big proboscis in the middle) seem to be around $50-100 at various military surplus stores. "Surplus" gas masks from the Gulf War, Vietnam War, Korean War, or Second World War have shown up at various demos, but often don't work terribly well. Many have degraded rubber - most have glass lenses. Hats with a big, stiff brim made from fabric or other solid material(s) will help keep squirted pepper spray off of your face, ears, and neck. (2) Much cheaper - respirator, face shield, goggles, hat with big brim A polycarbamate safety shield for the face (fits on headband with hinges for raising/lowering) combined with a simple paint respirator and goggles will provide good protection against projectiles, tear gas, and pepper spray. Safety shields can be found in hardware/home improvement stores - check to make sure they fit your head and gas mask/respirator/goggles. They cost around $20-30. Make sure you are getting a high-quality shatterproof safety shield - your face and eyes will thank you. Respirators which fit over the mouth and nose and have cartridge-type filters are (relatively) inexpensive and quite effective. Get filters (squat cylinders) for "paint thinner" (eg methylene chloride) and/or "organic chemicals" - bring spares! These respirators can also been found in hardware and/or paint stores for around 30$. Shatterproof goggles protect eyes against chemical weapons and projectiles. Goggles can be obtained with optical correction (swim goggles and some industrial goggles advertise this. In a pinch, one can use safety goggles of the form used by shop classes, woodworkers, metalworkers, etc and seal up the airholes with duct tape. (3) Least expensive - bandana, goggles, hat, lemon juice/cider vinegar, An inexpensive but much less effective barrier against inhaled tear gas can be made by soaking bandanas in lemon juice or (better) organic cider vinegar. The acidic fluid helps to act as a barrier against tear gas - but this barrier can be rapidly saturated and become ineffective. Commercial vinegar (especially the clear vinegar) is often made with acetic acid - this smells bad and can irritate skin and mucous membranes. Some folks will have allergic reactions to acetic acid. Goggles and hat as above. Face shield is still a good idea - helps with pepper spray and projectiles on the face! DO NOT PUT VINEGAR OR LEMON JUICE IN THE EYES! NEVER! EVER! (III) BRIEF NOTE ON EYE REMEDIES The following is from from the Black Cross website. Black Cross is a collective of excellent activist health care providers in Portland, OR. They have even done empirical trials of remedies for pepper spray! - see their website at http://www.blackcrosscollective.org/ ) [begin quote from Black Cross] For pepper spray in the eyes and mouth: We recommend an eye flush using a solution of half liquid antacid (ie Maalox) and half water. A bottle with a squirt cap is ideal, but a spray bottle works. Always irrigate from the inside corner of the eye towards the outside, with head tilted back and slightly towards the side being rinsed. It needs to get into the eye to help. This means that if the sprayed person says it's okay you should try to open their eye for them. They most likely won't be able/ willing to open it themselves, and opening will cause a temporary increase in pain, but it does help. This works great as a mouth rinse too. During cold weather, do your best to keep yourself and the victim dry. [end quote from Black Cross} Finally, good luck out there! Kirk PS - I'll follow this post with another with URL's for protective gear as well as additional info for those who must wear glasses! ------------------------ Yahoo! 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