CS and PAVA pepper spray

[Paul]

It's getting madder out there.
Sooner or later I'm guessing that it will lead to street protests.
Seeing as though the police play with CS gas and pepper spray, here is a few thoughts on protection and treatment if you get caught in a street protest and get accidently gassed or sprayed.

These notes have been compiled from a number of internet sources.

Protection Before hand:-

Avoid using oils and lotions, they trap the chemicals onto your skin.
Cover up as much as possible, use a hat to protect your head.
Wear waterproof wear and nitrile gloves to prevent the chemicals landing on your skin.
Waterproof gaiters to protect your ankles.
Use current military or police full face gas masks.

As a basic PPE wear full sealed goggles (Swimming goggles) for eye protection.

If you are wearing contact lenses, take them out BEFORE a CS or PAVA Attack.

Before hand make either of these neutralisers

Neutraliser 1-
A solution made up from water with 5% Baking Soda.
or
Neutraliser 2-
A solution made up from water and sodium metabisulphate (sold as Campden tablets used in home brewing).
Note, it has to be less than 1 day old to be effective.

If you are asthmatic make sure everyone knows your condition as you may need immediate medical assistance.

What to do when sprayed:-

Stand upwind of the attack, arms and legs wide, let the wind blow the CS gas off you.
Don't rub your eyes.

Use either of the neutralisers and then flush your skin with COLD water.

ASAP, have a cold shower for 3-5 minutes.
Then shower normally to warm up.
Notes:-
1) Hot water opens the pores and lets the gas particles in.
2) Never have a bath as it helps the chemical contaminate you.

Don't treat the sprayed skin with any cream, jelly or ointment.

The best treatments are air, cold water and time.

The alternative Police use to CS gas is PAVA (Captor) gas which is a synthetic pepper spray.

If you are wearing contact lenses, take them out BEFORE a CS or PAVA Attack.

For PAVA to work effectively it must enter the eyes so A GOOD pair of sealed swimming goggles is essential.

Wearing gloves, strip off contaminated clothing.
Expose yourself to loads of air.

Two schools of treatment exist here so I can't reliably say which is correct regarding contact lenses. They are:-

1) As soon as you can open your eyes, ditch any contact lenses.
2) After 15 mins, remove contact lenses, splash face with water.

Regarding contact lenses. Once contaminated, solid types may be cleansed (with great difficulty), but Permeable ones should be destroyed.

After 1 hour, have a cool shower for 3-5 mins
After that you can shower as normal.

With PAVA, the active ingredient remains dangerous for a long while. It's probably better to ditch all contaminated items. Washing only revitalised the chemicals.

Caution liquid propellants and dispersal agents may induce chemical burns. Do not burst blisters. Seek medical help.

As always, advice given by non medical personnel needs to be checked out before use.