Chemical Engineering

TEAR GAS

Source: "USA-Made Tear Gas - Jan28 2011" by Gigi Ibrahim is licensed under CC BY 2.0

“USA-Made Tear Gas – Jan28 2011” by Gigi Ibrahim is licensed under CC BY 2.0

What is Tear Gas

First things First. What is Tear Gas? Tear Gas is gas that causes severe irritation to the eyes. That means chemicals that are used for this purpose cause irritation of mucous membranes and of the eyes including tearing (which created the name Tear Gas), twitching around the eyes, cough, difficulty breathing and irritation to the skin. Tear Gas is unlikely to kill in relatively low levels. On skin chemicals react with sensory nerve receptors that can cause pain and discomfort in skin, eyes and mucous membranes. They act almost instantly, but the occasion and in open spaces, but in high levels in closed spaces . It’s unlikely to cause permanent harm.

How is it used

Tear Gas was used in 1925. Geneva Protocol categorized tear gas as a chemical warfare agent and banned its use in war shortly after World War I. A database by the International Committee of the Red Cross shows the ban includes use for riot control agents in war went into effect in 1997, but still made it legal for law enforcement to use for Riot.

(Tear Gas Is Way More Dangerous Than Police Let On …)

Tear is used to control or disperse crowds .

Protecting yourself ( if your going to a protect when you know these going to be tear gas )

First if your going to a protects bring a facemask or anything to cover your face .
anything to cover your eyes like sunglasses or swim goggles
Clothing covering all your skin as much as possible
Comfortable, closed, protective shoes that you can run in
AVOID wearing contact lenses, which can trap irritating chemicals, such as tear gas powder, underneath. If you do wear contacts lenses, keep a full facial gas mask or goggles on at all times.
AVOID wearing makeup such as eyeliner, for the same reason.
If you do get hit by tear gas
do not freak out
if you have been exposed by tear gas you need to get out of the gas-filled area.
put your face in the wind .Fresh air will help blow excess tear gas powder off of you and will prevent it from blowing back into your mouth or eyes.
do not touch your face . When you get sprayed by tear gas, your automatic response is going to be to rub your eyes. But this reflex is actually going to make the effects of the tear gas much worse.
Rinse your eyes with cold water. While rinsing your eyes from the inner to the outer corner, avoid allowing the contaminated water to run onto your skin or clothes.
when you get home
take all your Change your clothes as soon as you can or else the chemicals will be following you wherever you go and may contaminate other people near you. ( sorry forgot to adds this one in but you need to have a change of clothes in your emergency supplies.)
Take a shower Not a bath you’ll will just be sitting in chemical water. DO NOT use hot water. Using hot water will open your pores and allow the chemicals to seep further in, resulting in even more skin irritation.