Riot control agents, often referred to as "tear gas," are solid or liquid collection of chemicals that cause skin, respiratory, and eye irritation.
When a tear gas canister explodes, the powder inside 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.
While tear gas is typically perceived as causing mostly short-term health impacts, there is evidence of permanent disability in some cases.
Long-term health effects can lead to respiratory failure and death.
The severity of the symptoms you experience after exposure to tear gas can depend on:
Whether you’re in an enclosed space or an open space
How much tear gas is used
How close you are to the tear gas when it’s released
Whether you have a pre existing condition that may be exacerbated
Eye symptoms immediately after exposure to tear gas, you can experience the following eye symptoms:
tearing
Involuntary closing of eyelids
Itching
Burning
Temporary blindness
Blurry vision
Chemical burns
Long-term exposure or exposure at a close range can lead to
Blindness
Hemorrhages
Nerve damage
Respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms include
choking
burning and itching of your nose and throat
trouble breathing
coughing
salivating
chest tightness
nausea
vomiting
diarrhea
respiratory failure
Skin symptoms
Itching and rashes
Redness
Blisters
Chemical burns
Prolonged or repeated exposure to tear gas can cause symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD).
Tear gas exposure can lead to increased heart rate or blood pressure. In people with preexisting heart conditions, this can lead to cardiac arrest or death.
In the event of pulmonary symptoms such as bronchial spasm,short term medical treatment including oxygen therapy may be required.The rare occurrence of delayed pulmonary oedema in patients with pulmonary symptoms has led to some experts recommending a 24-48 hour stay in hospital for observation or a discharge home with detailed information about potential complications and their clinical manifestations.
Preventive meaures are,
️Wear shatter-resistant eye protection (e.g. shatter-resistant sunglasses, swim goggles, or a gas mask)
️Use clothing covering skin as much as possible
️ Comfortable, closed, protective shoes that you can run in
️Avoid wearing contact lenses, makeup or eye liner 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
️Do not try to remove the tear gas canisters, as doing so may put you at an increased risk for further harm and injury
️ if you see somebody either lying or sitting down or, it’s imperative to move them to a clean and ventilated area.Powder in tear gas canister is heavy, so once it’s aerosolized and propelled out of its canister, it will fall and settle on the ground.
Treatments
️Get away from the heavily dispersed tear gas areas and reach for fresh air as soon as possible. Running may cause you to breath more heavily, filling your lungs with more tear gas.Try to keep your breathing even
️Remove contaminated clothing and wash the exposed body parts including the eyes with clean water until no chemicals are left on the skin
️ Wash face and eyes with non-contaminated water and use a gentle soap, such as baby shampoo, to wash your face.Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Use water from your water bottle to clean. If you can find an open drinking fountain or sink in a public restroom, and wash your eyes with water for 10 to 15 minutes
️ Oxygen therapy is required for people with breathing difficulties
️ If you’re still having symptoms 30 minutes or so after getting all the agents off, and having eye or lung issues seeking medical care is essential.
Physiotherapy management
Most people recover from exposure to tear gas without complications. However, people exposed to large doses or who have pre existing medical conditions may develop severe symptoms such as respiratory failure, blindness, and even death. In such cases physio-therapeutic interventions mainly aim to maximize functions in cardiovascular and respiratory systems and to improve quality of life.
References
Https://www.lung.org/clean-air/outdoors/what-makes-air-unhealthy/toxic-air-pollutants/tear-gas#:~:text=In%20general%2C%20exposure%20to%20tear,allergic%20reactions%20and%20respiratory%20distress
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/effects-of-tear-gas
https://www.healthline.com/health/tear-gas-effects#treatment
http://www.dickyricky.com/Medicine/Papers/2009_06_27%20BMJ%20Management%20of%20the%20effects%20of%20exposure%20to%20tear%20gas.pdf
Rashini Ediriweera
