Dealing With Tear Gas Bomb
Azimio One Kenya supporters on Monday protested due to the high cost of living, the demonstrations led to a serious engagement between the police and the coalition supporters.
The police had to apply various techniques to disperse the protesters, the most commonly used was lobbying tear gas canisters.
When a tear gas canister explodes, CS powder sprays into the air and adheres to any moisture it can find, including the tears in your eyes, the sweat on your skin, the grease in your hair, and the saliva and mucus that cover your mouth and airways.
Most people were caught up in the mess and now this is what you should do next when you are tear-gassed;
1. Get out of the cloud of tear gas and away from the general area as soon as you can. Seek high ground, as most forms of tear gas are heavy; the closer you are to the ground, the higher the concentration of gas.
2. Walk, don’t run. Running may cause you to breath more heavily, filling your lungs with more tear gas. Try to keep your breathing even.
3. If your eyes have been exposed and are burning or blurry, flush them with water immediately. Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Use water from your water bottle to flush. If you can find an open drinking fountain or sink in a public restroom, flush your eyes with water for 10 to 15 minutes.
4. If possible, and you are not affected yourself, help others by moving them to a clean and ventilated area.
5. Do not try to remove the tear gas canisters, as doing so may put you at an increased risk for further harm and injury.
Symptoms of tear gas exposure can include the following, according to the Centers for Disease Control:
Eyes: Excessive tearing, redness, burning, blurred vision
Skin: Burns and rash
Mouth: Burning, irritation, drooling, trouble swallowing
Nose: Running, burning, and swelling
Lungs: Chest tightness, shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing, choking sensation
Stomach: Nausea and vomiting
BY MARGARET MUGO
Tags: Signstv Tear Gas Canisters Bomb
