What are Some Tear Gas Exposure Treatments?



Tear gas exposure causes severe irritation to the mucus membranes, and as a result, the eyes, nose, and throat will begin to sting, swell, and produce more mucous. If you have ever been tear gassed, you know how important it is to find treatment as quickly as possible. What are some common treatments for tear gas exposure? What should you do if your home, business, or property has been tear gassed? This article will provide the answers that you are looking for.

Tear Gas Exposure: What to Do Next

woman with tears in eyesThe good news about tear gas exposure is that the symptoms are usually temporary, lasting one to two hours at most, and treatment is generally simple.

Some common ways to remediate the symptoms of tear gas exposure include:

  • Flushing your eyes. If you wear contact lenses, be sure to remove them before you begin rinsing your eyes. Once your contacts are removed, tilt your head to the side (towards the eye that you are going to flush) and allow cool water to stream from the inside corner of the eye to the outside. Repeat on the other side.
  • Changing your clothes. The chemicals found in tear gas can seep into your clothes and cause ongoing symptoms, so it is imperative to remove contaminated clothing as soon as possible.
  • Taking a cold shower.  Be sure to avoid hot water, as it can open the pores and make the stinging sensation worse.
  • Wipe off your skin: Use a towel saturated in canola oil to wipe down your skin, then immediately wipe down your skin with another rag saturated in rubbing alcohol. Be careful to avoid your eyes.  
  • Blow your nose: Following tear gas exposure, you should immediately blow your nose and try to spit out any chemicals you may have gotten in your mouth. 

If Your Property is Tear Gassed

Although the effects of tear gas on your body are temporary, the effects of tear gas on your home or property are not. Not only can the chemicals in tear gas seep into furniture, fabric, and other porous materials, the canisters can also break windows and puncture drywall and ceilings.

Aftermath, a crime scene cleanup company with almost 20 years of experience, uses state-of-the-art technology and strict control procedures to restore sites after a tear gas incident. We even remove damaged walls, surface coverings, and floors to restore the home to a safe and disinfected state. For more information, contact one of our representatives today.

———-
Sources:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1343325/
http://www.aftermath.com/contact-24-7-365/
http://facingteargas.org/bp/70/if-youve-been-gassed