Protection Against Riot Control Agents(RCA)
Protection Against Riot Control Agents(RCA)
* Dispose of contaminated clothing properly.
* Riot control agents can sometimes cause severe respiratory distress in those with asthma. If you are asthmatic, you should let your companions know before riot control agents are released so that they can administer treatment and help you to safety. The use of asthma medications such as inhalers can help alleviate breathing difficulties resulting from exposure.
* Turn parts of the body that have been exposed to RCAs toward the wind (as long as you are upwind of the point of release). The wind will help carry the chemicals away from your body.
* Wash your body with castille soap before potential exposure to RCAs.
* If you want to keep clothes that have been exposed, seal them in a plastic bag and wash them with detergent in hot water. Always wash contaminated clothing separate from other clothes. Hang them outside to let them air out for 2 or 3 days before wearing again.
* If skin blistering occurs, treat as you would a second-degree burn. For relief of persistent skin symptoms, apply calamine lotion, Burows solution, colloidal oatmeal, or a topical corticosteroid.
* If you use a vinegar-soaked cloth in place of a gas mask, you may want to use it over a dust mask, since inhaling the vinegar fumes can be unpleasant.
* If pain in the throat makes breathing difficult, gargle with water. Spit out the water–do not swallow it. Do this only if you are able to do so without choking.
* In the event of a terrorist attack or military strike in which toxic chemicals are released, it is important to determine which chemicals have been used. While riot control agents are heavier than air, some other, more toxic, gases–hydrogen cyanide, for example–are lighter than air. Furthermore, the methods of treatment vary considerably depending on what chemicals the victims have been exposed to.
* Some people develop a heightened sensitivity to tear gas after one exposure, so that if they are exposed again, more serious health problems may result.
* If temporary blindness or impaired vision develops be careful moving about. Your natural instinct will be to run away as fast as you can, but if you can’t see clearly, you may injure yourself running into traffic or a stationary object.
* The mass panic that results in a group of people exposed to riot control agents can cause a dangerous stampede. Be careful not to lose your footing, or you may be trampled, especially since others may be partially blinded.
* If you are wearing a gas mask, make sure you know how to remove it quickly. If you are exposed to RCAs before you put your mask on, or if your mask is not functioning properly, you may vomit, and if you can’t get your gas mask off you could choke.
* Extended exposure to high concentrations of RCAs, such as that which may occur if they are released indoors, may cause long-term respiratory problems or death.
* Avoid touching exposed materials. Wear rubber gloves to handle contaminated clothes or when assisting an RCA victim.
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