TEAR GAS

Tear gas, formally known as a lachrymatory agent 

or a lachrymator is a chemical weapon that causes severe eye, respiratory and skin irritation, pain, vomiting and even blindness. In the eye, it stimulates the nerves of the lacrimal gland to produce tears. Another common lachrymator is pepper spray(OC gas).  Lachrymator agents are commonly used for riot control.

How it works

Tear gas works by irritating mucuous membranes in the eyes, nose, mouth and lungs, and causes crying, sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, pain in the eyes, and temporary blindness. With CS gas, symptoms of irritation typically appear after 20-60 seconds of exposure and commonly resolve within 30 minutes of leaving the contaminated area.

Lachrymators act by attacking sulfhydryl functional groups in enzymes. One of the most probable protein targets is the TRPA1 ion channel that is expressed in sensory nerves (trigeminal nerve) of the eyes, nose, mouth and lungs.

Antidote

There is no specific antidote to common tear gases. To reduce the effects, please do move out of the contaminated area into fresh air as the first line of action, while finding your way out, DO NOT  rub your eyes or skin as this spreads the effects. Also remove all contaminated clothing and avoid shared use of contaminated towels, this could help reduce skin reactions.

A mask and hood offer limited protection and of course they are well worth wearing for disguise anyway. An improvement on the normal cloth mask is a special cycle mask as they contain activated charcoal which will filter out some of the CS.

Goggles are useful for eye protection and are easy to get hold of and carry.

Carry a bottle of solution made up from water and sodium metabisulphate (sold as Campden tablets used in home brewing) as this combination neutralises the effects of CS. If you cannot get this use clean water to rinse the eyes and skin. Please note that there are instances where water increased the burning sensation on the eyes for just that initial moment. That is just how CS gas was wired to enhance pain.

Tear gas is only known to cause severe injuries when the gas canister hits on a person’s body with that initial force after it is released from the “gun”. It should be noted that for persons with pre-existing respiratory problems like asthma, this gas affects them adversely such that if they do not get medical attention early enough, they could collapse and go into “eternal sleep”. So if you have this medical condition and intend to take part in any protest, please tell those around you about this condition before the protest starts OR DO NOT TAKE PART IN IT AT ALL.

In as much as this gas does its job of rendering people scampering for safety,it is only used as a LAST RESORT and not even for a peaceful protest. I only look forward to time in Nigeria where our Police force would not see the use of tear gas and even LIVE BULLETS as a form of protest management.

This piece is for all those who were oppressed one way or the other by the wrong use of this gas by the Nigerian Police and to those who may have lost loved ones, especially in the most recent UNIPORT protest. Our hearts go out to you.

R.I.P. MR. PETER OFURUN

R.I.P. MISS KELECHI NDULAGWUA PRECIOUS

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