treatment for CS gas / Pepper spray?

D

Darkwerks

Full Registered User
I might be covering a public order event in the next few days so there's a possibility of encountering CS gas or Pepper spray being used for crowd control.
I've never been exposed to the stuff or treated anyone who has .
It's covered very briefly in some of my textbooks but the advice is contradictory .
I've done some research online but that's equally confusing.
Some sources say to irrigate thoroughly and others say this just spreads the irritant.
 
Just get upwind mate and don't rub your eyes. CS and pepper-spray work in different ways. CS attacks wet parts like your eyes. I'm sure there are some experts on the subject on here that will give you better advice

Selous
 
I'm not a medical anything but have been peppered and CS'd. I know that with pepper spray irrigating can spread the irritant, for instance if you are standing upright and somebody sprays you with a hose or pours water over your head then it can spread over your body.

A bit of water helps get rid of some of it (we had to dunk our heads in a bucket of water, open the eyes and shake our heads) which worked OK I suppose. Either way fresh air (get away from sprayed area), walking around and avoiding direct sunlight (sun feels ten times as bad) and opening your eyes will all help get rid of it. People never want to open their eyes.

Some people get it worse than most when sprayed and they need to be watched, some no effect at all. From what I saw on average people cleared up pretty good within an hour though mild burning may persist.

As for CS never got any special treatment (other than fresh air and walking around...sound familiar) though I hear its a bad idea to iron your clothes after being gassed without washing them first.
 
selous said:
Just get upwind mate and don't rub your eyes. CS and pepper-spray work in different ways. CS attacks wet parts like your eyes. I'm sure there are some experts on the subject on here that will give you better advice

Selous
Click to expand...

That takes a few of us back Selous... to the bad old days eh..?
 
Both CS and pepper spray are crystaline in gaseous or aceitic suspension, that is to say gas or gel. Both active ingredients in all form are in the form of crystal that cling to the skin and eyes and are reactive with all moisture. Take away the moisture and the suspension evaporates leaving the crystal to fall fromm the skin.

Wahing off with water is the last thing you should do...........as it prevents the crystals from drying off ( If you wanna be a complete see you next tuesday to the victim, get him a bottle of water and administer help by telling him to wash ot off)

Coca cola does not, contrary to belief, work.

Milk seems to have a slight effect in easing the burning situation, but you'll need about 1 litre.

I my opininion the best way of minimising the effects are to:
1 Sit down.
2 Point the face to the floor and using the hands keep your eyelids from closing.

this the effect of A......letting the crystal dry and fall off.............gives your hands something to do, rather than rubbing your face.....and B.........stop you walking round with a screwed up face squealing like a chimpanzee.


Seriously mate...............let it burnand embrace the world of pain, it'll pass within 10 minutes after which your sinuses will be lovely and clear.

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO WASH IT OFF.
 
Darkwerks said:
I might be covering a public order event in the next few days so there's a possibility of encountering CS gas or Pepper spray being used for crowd control.
I've never been exposed to the stuff or treated anyone who has .
It's covered very briefly in some of my textbooks but the advice is contradictory .
I've done some research online but that's equally confusing.
Some sources say to irrigate thoroughly and others say this just spreads the irritant.
Click to expand...

In an ideal world it is best to experience the effects of OC and CS gas in a training environment before getting exposed to it at a time of heightened tensions and the body release of chemicals. Training provides you with the experience to know that you can work through a situation after being exposed to OC and CS gas. I would not want to be in your shoes to get exposed to it in a live situation.

I know that this is not USA but there has to be a legal duty to train you on these products before being exposed to them in a security/law enforcement situation.

OC and you can do the research on line these days. Is measured in something called SHU or Schoville Heating Units. This will determine where on the potency level the particular spray you are going to use or be exposed to in the field.

The initial contact wit OC is not pleasant neither is it intended to be. As you can fight through it. The initial effect of OC will be immediate closure of the eyes. No matter what you do you can not open them. you will have an immediate swelling of the throat and mucus will flow like you had a bad cold. There is a technical name for it but I will not mention it as it complicates the matter. The treatment for OC is to have copious amounts of water and some assistance as you will need it. How your going to get this copious amounts of water I'm not sure but you should plan for in the event it is used.

CS is not that bad in comparison with OC. Both of these products do what they say on the tin. NOt enough time to give a class on OC and CS. They work and they work well.

Its easy to say stay up wind. The reality on the ground is that at one moment your upwind then your down wind.

I could go on but theres no need to.

Best regards and happy crying with the OC if it's used.

Tapmaster
 
When I was working with hazardous chemicals, irrigation was the decontamination procedure for everything. However that was huge amounts of water in a shower that makes your domestic power shower look like a trickle, it was 1degree centigrade (the low temperature slows down chemical reactions) and you had to stay in for 15minutes whilst stripping all your clothing off.
So thats probably why you'll find some advice suggesting irrigation, humongous amounts of very cold water probably will work but the amounts you're going to have access to won't.



(PS For those with perverse imaginations - No, I never did need to get decontaminated.)
 
Dry blot at the affected areas with a paper towel, making sure not to use the same part of the towel twice. Do not irrigate with water, or any form of aqueous cream. Milk does help, but you need to regularly apply it.

I was a copper in Sussex, and we used pepper spray. I had it in my eyes and on my skin dozens of times, and dry paper towels are the way to go. Fullers earth also helps, but you have to follow correct decontamination drills.
 
You should always have some Sudacon wipes in your pocket if you are a frequent user of OC ( I am ). You wipe your face with them and you get an instant relief due to the formula on the wipes. ( well, it will still burn to some degree ). Google for best place to get them.
FOX carry the brand.
Hope this will help.

KURT
 
You should wear all PPE incluing goggles and gloves

Treatment I would recomend is

Dont rub eyes
Dont touch affected area
Dont use any Liquid

Fresh air is all you need but blowing into eyes or a low rate of O2 (1/2 ltrs per/min) into the eyes will dry them out quicker.

Dont cover eyes unless you absolutly need to

Encourage blinking

There will be burning sensation but that will pass

The eyes might become sticky after drying and might find it difficult to open - leave them or cover them if necassary but don't touch them.

Watch for any allergic reactions
Watch for any breathing problems
WATCH THE AIRWAY

Hope this helps

MedicMedic
 
The beauty of OC if used in a correct way in the right circumstances it does what it says on the tin. It is those things after the spray that make all the difference in the world to someone who has been sprayed. I never forget the fist dose of OC that I got. never ever forget.

Tapmaster
 
From my experience there is no real way of treating CS except just stand in the wind (if there is any).

My last exposure in Police training was the worst I've had. Being ex-forces I was reassuring the other recruits by saying it wasn't as bad as they were expecting thus trying to calm their nerves. The trainer overheard me and obviously thought I was trying to be the big hard man that can take it and gave me a huge dose of it. The usual drills are for four or five people in a small circle and the trainer sprays a little around your feet.

What really happened was he gave me a 2 second spray all over my hair so every time I move I would just keep getting covered and as much as I tried to man it out I was in pieces. The burning lasted for about 2 hours. I learnt many lessons that day:

1) Always keep your gob shut
2) Never use a hair dryer to try and blow CS out of your hair
3) Never ever have a shower within a few hours of exposure
4) Lingering near friends after exposure won't make you popular
5) Wash your clothes TWICE afterwards.
 
Yes not to forget that once you have got your better half to wash you clothes in a cool wash, ensure you have a front row seat to watch her iron the same afterwards.. as it is always good sport to watch wifey roll around the floor clutching her eyes calling you all the names under the sun. Or equally as good is to make a be-line for your kids and give them a big hug in your CS soaked clothes. GREAT

Only joking ladies, i do my own washing and ironing, my wife lets me.... apparently!
 
Sorry to jump in so late to this thread but have only just read through last month's issue of the Emergency Medical Journal (Nov. Vol 27 Issue 11).

There is a short article on CS gas. It doesn't reveal much more than has been revealed in this thread already except that whilst 'drying' the effected area to recrystalise the CS compoment etc. definitive treatment is to deluge the affected area in water.

We know that CS is activated/agrivated with moisture but in the same way that other chemicals (such as Hydrofluoric acid) are made worse with small amounts of water, to deluge the area with copious amount will eventually dilute the CS to an inneffective level.


So...

Follow the advice given if exposed to CS in the immediate instance if you are exposed yourself but if you have the means, irrigate copiously until the pain has been relieved.

A pdf is available in the site here but you will need to be a paid subscriber.

My top tip if join the Royal College of Surgeons Faculty of Pre Hospital Care and pay £71 pembership and get the £205 (print) or £115 (online) subscription free.
 
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